Perspective needed in anti- and pro-IPL talk

Jofra Archer. Pic/AFP

England cricketer Jofra Archer, the Barbados-born fast bowler, has been vilified in England for not being part of the recent opening Test between the hosts and England at Lord's. Archer chose to take a break after representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL that concluded on May 31. Archer's absence became a good reason for franchise-before-country talk to resume.

Public sentiment revolves around country always coming first. But today's cricket throws up the workload aspect which is also important. This is an age where players can, in many ways, decide for themselves what's best for them. Meanwhile, the IPL continues to be a target for pundits, especially from England and Australia. They point to players being fit for the IPL but not for their country. The willingness to look beyond this supposed open-and-shut case seems missing.

It's one thing to make bold statements that get traction and quite another to venture into a fact-checking exercise. Did any of those experts who slammed Archer find out what exactly is wrong with him? Even if this was done, it was not uttered in their narratives. One cricketer-turned-commentator cited the example of NZ fast bowlers training with the red ball during the IPL for a previous series vs England. Good example, but were facts associated with Archer mentioned? Not really. That said, while we frown upon anti-IPL views, we must also factor in that overseas stars lend much value to the IPL and the BCCI too gains from this. The abundance of local talent, the presence of elite Indian cricketers and a whole bunch of overseas players make up the colourful IPL rainbow and perspective from both sides of the fence is the need of the hour.