I wonder why England doesn't send more of their players to play in the IPL? It's a good middle ground between first class and international, with the experience of huge crowds and publicity as well as some star players and coaches to learn from. Both South Africa and Australia send some of their first class players and they seem to have prospered from it.
There are a number of points here...
1. the standard isn't a middle ground it is pretty low.
2. it is during the English county season (which it shouldn't be, the county season shouldn't start at the beginning of April...)
3. none of the English players actually get bought at the auction!!
so playing with different people from different nationalities in front of full houses is important - but astonishingly enough, you do get that in England too...
The young Indian talent to show itself in this years version is still impressive, however.