Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan on Sunday said that there was no discrimination of players based on region in the national team selection, but admitted that luck could play a part in the process. "No, there is certainly no discrimination," Dhawan told reporters at a press conference when asked whether there was discrimination of players from Jammu and Kashmir as they do not get many opportunities. "If you perform, no one on earth can keep you out; your performance must do the talking. Sometimes, luck also plays its part. That isn't exclusive to J&K. Whether it's a boy from Delhi or Mumbai, you will find plenty of instances where a player deserved an opportunity, but didn't get it, and someone else was picked instead. That is simply part and parcel of this game," he said. The press conference was called to announce the launch of Pro Star Cricket League (PSCL) Season 2. The tournament, dedicated to identifying and nurturing emerging cricket ...
Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly did not mince words when asked for his reaction on the uncertainty surrounding Mitchell Starc's availability for the start of IPL 2026. Delhi Capitals said at the press conference that they are waiting for a green signal from Cricket Australia. And this is what Dada said while in Delhi for a brand endorsement for Jakson, "It hurts... because when quality players don't come in at the last minute, it shakes the balance of the team." Starc is set to miss the opening phase of the season as Cricket Australia carefully manages his workload ahead of a packed 2026-27 calendar. The timing could not be worse as franchises build their squads and strategies around marquee overseas players.
Ganguly, speaking on the broader issue of player availability in franchise cricket, said the impact of such late withdrawals is far greater in the IPL than in international cricket.
"It hurts because I've always said making an Indian team is easier than making an IPL team. Because the best players are available all the time to be picked. IPL is 10 teams that players get distributed. And when quality players don't come in at the last minute, obviously it shakes up the balance of the team."
He hit on the depth available in international squads, that is rarely mirrored in franchise setups.
"Because the substitutes, the availability is not as strong as the one who's not turned up... But in IPL if Mitchell Starc misses out or Pathirana misses out, the void is very hard to fill. So that's one of the challenges."
The former India captain, however, stopped short of criticising workload management itself, acknowledging the toll modern cricket takes on players across formats and leagues.
"Workload management is very important because players do play a lot of cricket. It's not just the IPL... more than physical, the mental part takes over. Away from home, away from families. It's never easy. So it's a balance which will continue to happen."
England cricketer Ben Duckett also pulled out of IPL 2026 as he wanted to concentrate on international cricket.
The uncertainty has not gone down well with commentators either. Harsha Bhogle called the lack of clarity around Starc's status "frustrating", especially in a league where franchises invest heavily in overseas stars. He argued that teams deserve firmer assurances when they commit significant portions of their salary purse to marquee players and warned that repeated episodes could push franchises towards stricter contract clauses and heavier financial deductions.
Delhi Capitals had structured their bowling attack around Starc's pace and new-ball threat, but this forces them to rethink.
This is not the first time the IPL has had to navigate the complicated triad of international calendars, bilateral commitments and franchise expectations. With players now juggling national duty, multiple T20 leagues and personal rest windows, such situations are likely to recur. As Ganguly put it, "Injuries will happen. Players will have problems... and you have to deal with it."
from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/anj5PXS
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