Former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath has urged the country’s young cricketers to look beyond the immediate attraction of T20 cricket and build their careers around the longest format.
Speaking to the media during the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Awards in Indore on Thursday, Srinath acknowledged the enormous appeal of the IPL but stressed that Test cricket remains the ultimate test of a player’s skills, temperament and consistency.
For Srinath, the ideal pathway is not to choose between Tests and T20 cricket, but to establish a strong foundation in the longer format before embracing the shorter game.
“IPL is important, but you need depth in cricket, which is there in Tests. Test cricket is a five-day format, which is why it is called the ‘mother of all cricket.’ A player who plays Test cricket can also find it easier to play T20 cricket, but for someone who only plays T20 cricket, playing Test cricket is not as easy. Stick to Test cricket, the longer version of the game. Alongside that, you can also play T20,” he said.
IPL glamour can be tempting
Srinath admitted that it is understandable for youngsters to be drawn towards the IPL, particularly because of the financial rewards, exposure and glamour surrounding the competition.
However, he believes coaches, parents and state associations have an important role in ensuring that young players do not lose sight of the bigger picture.
“It is natural (to get attracted to the IPL). There is more glamour and all of it. Parents, state associations, coaches, etc should guide their children regarding their cricket. If you want to make it a profession for 15 years, you have to play Tests. You get rotated really quickly in T20s,” he said.
The former pacer’s argument centres on longevity. T20 cricket can offer quick opportunities, but selection in the format can also be unpredictable, with players frequently rotated or replaced. Srinath feels Test cricket provides the deeper cricketing education required to sustain a career over many years.
Srinath’s own career provides considerable weight to his assessment of Test cricket. He represented India in 67 Tests between 1991 and 2002 and claimed 236 wickets at an average of 30.49. His Test record included 10 five-wicket hauls, a ten-wicket match haul and best figures of 8/86.
He was also a major force in India’s ODI attack, taking 315 wickets in 229 matches at an average of 28.08. His best figures in the format were 5/23, and he remains India’s second-highest ODI wicket-taker and the country’s leading Indian pace bowler for wickets in ODIs. Across 296 international appearances, Srinath finished with 551 wickets in both formats of the game.
His message, therefore, is less about rejecting T20 cricket and more about ensuring that young players develop the skills required to survive at the highest level.