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[100 not out]

Ravindra Jadeja and Vinay Kumar both hit the big times in this years auction. Are they worth it. Are they worthy of their price tags when they have done nothing of note in their sparce international appearances. They are hardly a regular fixture in the international teams. I have a feeling the BCCI are weakening Indian cricket by this IPL mallarky. Where are the Pakistani players. If anyone was tailor made for T20 it has to be Afridi. A bit mind boggling that.

[basket case]

Indian players are at a premium as they have to select 7 on their starting line up. Jadeja was all ways gonna get big bucks as he can bat, bowl and field. I'd go as far as saying he's India's best fielder. Jadeja in the recent home series against England was the leading wicket taker. He also score 300 in a first class game, so he's improving all the time.

Vinay Kumar isn't worth what he was purchased for, but as he is an international player, the franchises paid over the odds for him.

Nice to see Brad Hogg get a contract. Great watching him bowl and a great character. Made for T20 and more so the IPL.

Good to see Sunil Narine get a gig. One of the West Indies upcoming stars. Watch out for his variations.

Regarding Pakistan, the two countries don't get on, so Afridi and co will have to wait a but longer.

Azhar Mahmood got a contract under his British passport though...

[Buzz]

My issue is that the quality of the cricket at the start is good but by the end of the tournament the pitches and quality is terrible - that for me is the big problem with the IPL.

Futher all the players are basically required to go out and party after every game which is not helping the player fateague issue.

I do like the IPL - but it is (apparently like Eng's number 1 status!!) somewhat overrated.

[johnnyw]

Surprised Kevin O'Brien was not picked up cheaply 

[basket case]

My issue is that the quality of the cricket at the start is good but by the end of the tournament the pitches and quality is terrible - that for me is the big problem with the IPL.

Futher all the players are basically required to go out and party after every game which is not helping the player fateague issue.

I do like the IPL - but it is (apparently like Eng's number 1 status!!) somewhat overrated.

Regarding pitches, I doubt there's anything the teams can do, as they are allocated 4-6 pitches at the stadiums only. The rest are reserved for India's national side.

[Cover_Drive]

LOL who watches IPL? Waste of time really.

It is good that Pakistani players are not playing there, very good for Pakistan Cricket indeed.

Well Afridi was sold for $700,000 in BPL but he is skipping most of it as he gives Pakistan more importance (rightly so) than BPL.

[basket case]

LOL who watches IPL? Waste of time really.

It is good that Pakistani players are not playing there, very good for Pakistan Cricket indeed.

Well Afridi was sold for $700,000 in BPL but he is skipping most of it as he gives Pakistan more importance (rightly so) than BPL.

Jealous Pakistani by any chance? Afridi been screaming to play IPL for the last 2 years.

BPL isn't the same standard as IPL. Bangladesh don't have any world class players or stadiums.

[Cover_Drive]

Jealous Pakistani by any chance? Afridi been screaming to play IPL for the last 2 years.

BPL isn't the same standard as IPL. Bangladesh don't have any world class players or stadiums.

HAHA LOL I knew this was coming mate!

Twenty20 is not my cup of tea really, even in IPL 1 when Pakistanis played I didn't give a sh!t about this then nor I do it now

Well the reason why Afridi is screaming to play is because of money so $700,000 is no joke, I'm sure no one cares about the standard as long pay cheque is hefty.

[basket case]

HAHA LOL I knew this was coming mate!

Twenty20 is not my cup of tea really, even in IPL 1 when Pakistanis played I didn't give a sh!t about this then nor I do it now

Well the reason why Afridi is screaming to play is because of money so $700,000 is no joke, I'm sure no one cares about the standard as long pay cheque is hefty.

I'm not sure CD, if it was offered 700,000 to play in Bangladesh and 300,000 in Australia or India, I'd take the money in Aus/Ind as you are playing a better standard and developing your skills.

I also dislike T20

[thedon]

It does get exciting though when chris gayle is smacking them around! Also you see the class of someone like tendulkar or kallis shine through.

I have grown to like t20. There is a skill involved. Unfortunately its not doing too much for the Indian test side.

Where does all this money go that the BCCI generates? Not grass roots level...makes you wonder

[Nickauger]

I'm not sure CD, if it was offered 700,000 to play in Bangladesh and 300,000 in Australia or India, I'd take the money in Aus/Ind as you are playing a better standard and developing your skills.

I also dislike T20

Lol i doubt you would

[basket case]

Lol i doubt you would

Depends on what floats your boat. Looking to one day plays Test matches or just playing for cash

[Cover_Drive]

I'm not sure CD, if it was offered 700,000 to play in Bangladesh and 300,000 in Australia or India, I'd take the money in Aus/Ind as you are playing a better standard and developing your skills.

I also dislike T20

How would you develop your skills in T20?

Test cricket is real deal, one who succeed in test arena is a successful player in cricket.

I doubt he or anyone would mate, T20 is all about money and thats what players care of tbh

[kaustav]

While I agree with CD about the aspect of Test Cricket being the real test for players, at the same time 20/20 is the real deal for a quality fun-time for the audience and players as well and hence this format is important as well when it comes to the entertainment value of it.

Also face it, not every player is qualified to play proper test cricket. So 20/20 holds special value for them as well.

Love it or hate it, we have seen IPL to be the real deal when it comes to excitement and entertainment value. Someone who says otherwise is surely mistaken or is forcing himself to think in the opposite direction. Whether you will like it as a purist though is a different question.

The other question of course is whether it is good for the game but that, is quite a complicated question. 

[basket case]

How would you develop your skills in T20?

Playing against better players makes you up your game.

If Afridi was bowling at Tendulkar, he would be more determined to get him than say Mahmullah