It's no secret that the BCCI doesn’t allow Indian cricketers to participate in foreign leagues. But why is that? Why did this opportunity only open up for Ravichandran Ashwin after he retired from the IPL? There are several reasons why the BCCI had to put its foot down years ago.
Protecting IPL’s Brand Value
To begin with, this rule is designed to protect the IPL’s brand value. After all, there’s no bigger brand in cricket than the IPL. If Indian cricketers were allowed to play in other leagues, those tournaments could have grown to the IPL’s level, which would have reduced both the financial value and the popularity of the IPL. And why would the BCCI want to create direct competition for itself?
Commercial Interests
This decision is also heavily tied to commercial interests. Think about it, brands invest massive sums in the IPL to get Indian cricketers at a premium price. If the same players were available in other leagues for a lower amount, why would those brands pay higher prices in the IPL? That would destroy the exclusivity and price tag that the IPL currently commands. Because realistically, no one would spend such huge amounts anymore.
The Economics Don’t Add Up
It also comes down to simple economics. In fact, many foreign leagues have a total salary purse that is smaller than what a single top Indian cricketer earns in the IPL. So, if the BCCI allowed its players to participate, stars like Virat Kohli or Jasprit Bumrah would be completely unaffordable for those leagues. At best, second or third-string Indian cricketers might have been picked, but whether they would actually get game time or not is uncertain. That would defeat the entire purpose of sending them in the first place.
Impact on Domestic Cricket
And that’s not all. If Indian cricketers got exposure to foreign leagues, what would happen to domestic cricket? These T20 tournaments usually clash with India’s domestic season. Naturally, players would prefer franchise cricket over the Ranji Trophy or the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, for instance. Plus, the risk of injuries would increase significantly with more cricket being played around the year.
So, to those who argue that BCCI should not restrict Indian cricketers only to the IPL, does your opinion still remain the same?
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