Even in the euphoria of finally clinching an IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru after 18 long years, Virat Kohli’s profound love for Test cricket shone through. While he acknowledged the title-winning season as a pinnacle in his illustrious career, Kohli emphatically ranked the IPL “five levels below Test cricket” during a post-match interview with broadcasters in Ahmedabad. He went on to implore young cricketers to prioritize red-ball cricket, emphasizing its importance for earning true respect in the sport.
Echoing Kohli’s sentiment on the purity of the format, his teammate Jasprit Bumrah offered a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging the individual circumstances, particularly for bowlers. “It is up to the individual. They have one career, and bowlers don’t hide behind a bat. A lot of strain is put on the body,” Bumrah explained on Star Sports.
He highlighted the financial considerations and physical toll on players, suggesting a pragmatic approach: “You have a family to take care of and earn money. If sometimes their bodies don’t allow them to play red-ball cricket and they still want to contribute, it is better to be smarter.”
Bumrah, like Kohli, grew up revering Test cricket. “Everybody is different. I grew up watching Test cricket, which is the pinnacle for me. I judge myself based on performances in the longest format,” he stated. However, he also recognized the evolving landscape of the sport. “The current generation is different. T20 cricket is there, and you have got different leagues. The mindset and thought process have changed. You can’t judge fast bowlers. Test cricket is the purest format, but everybody is different,” he concluded, providing a balanced view on the shifting priorities in modern cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah does make sense, doesn’t he?
