Before Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) opens its campaign in IPL 2019 versus Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Monday (March 25), their batsman Mandeep Singh said playing in IPL has helped youngsters develop their games and learn how to better respond under pressure. The 27-year-old Mandeep reckons IPL has played a huge role in improving cricket by popularising it across all corners of India. 

"I think IPL has benefited Indian cricket a lot," he told The Indian Express. "Indian cricket team is doing well in all formats of the game and ruling in the world of cricket. IPL has played a great role in that."

"At IPL, young players learn the game and the way to handle pressure. IPL has filled the gap between the Ranji Trophy and the Indian cricket team."

"Because of this platform, players now get a chance to show their talent and an opportunity to play and train with great players. Rest, people may have a different opinion, but I feel it has benefitted the game of cricket in India."

Mandeep also remembered how things used to be for Indian cricketers when IPL wasn't around, he said, "Before IPL, every player used to think that first, we will play in the Ranji Trophy and then apply for a job if they were not selected in the Indian cricket team. Now the story is entirely different." 

"Lots of players are playing in IPL and they don’t think they have to search for a job. They focus entirely on cricket. Many players have even left their jobs for cricket now. They now hope that they will get a chance to grow in cricket via this platform."

IPL each year is about 60 highly demanding cricket matches packed inside a gruelling schedule of 45 days. Surviving a fixture list of 14 games each - seven home and seven away - coupled with regular travelling and training can be hailed as one of the toughest challenges out there.  Hence, the cash-rich T20 league commands a player to work extremely hard over his physical and mental fitness.

"Obviously, physical fitness is a big thing in our career," Mandeep said. "You need to build your stamina and be fit for each game you play. I had one back surgery in 2017 and had to work quite a lot after that to become fit again."

"If you see how Virat Kohli plays, you will notice he does not have more boundaries but singles and doubles, and that is because of fitness."

"Fitness is very important for consistency. In earlier times, only skills were thought to be the need of the game. But now, fitness is also an important requirement," he concluded.