Sourav Ganguly says IPL money isn't a parameter to judge a player

Ganguly also talks about India's chances against South Africa in ODIs.

Sourav Ganguly |Getty Images

Cricketers fetch a lot of money from the cash-rich T20 league IPL. But former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly thinks that a player should not be judged on its IPL price money.

Speaking at Cricket Year Book's 20th anniversary, Ganguly was asked about highly rated India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha going to Sunrisers Hyderabad for just Rs 5 crore while fellow stumper Dinesh Karthik was bought for Rs 7.4 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders. "You cannot judge players based on IPL money. Hashim Amla (of South Africa) went unsold. He has 54 centuries. Delhi's Ishan Kishan has got 6.2 crores (Mumbai Indians) playing only Ranji Trophy. So the IPL is not a yardstick to judge any player's value.

"IPL is a different format and you have to look at it that way. IPL has no rationale, it is supply and demand. Jaydev Unadkat is the highest paid Indian player (in the 2018 auction). He has played two ODIs and no Tests," Ganguly said.

Jaydev Unadkat got 11.5 crore, most among the domestic cricketers. He got sold at a higher price than Australian pacer Mitchell Starc.

Ganguly also talked about the upcoming limited overs series of India. He said it's a 50-50 after India's fighting win in the third Test in Johannesburg.

"I can't say before matches. It's 50-50 now after India's Jo'burg Test win. It won't be easy in South African conditions. The advantage is that AB De Villiers is not there (for the first three matches due to a finger injury). He is a huge name for South African cricket. Virat has to score runs for India to win the series," Ganguly said.

He also said that India's chances in the third Test increased after winnings the toss. "When India won the toss, I thought they would win. I knew the more time will pass, the wicket will get worse. In 2006, same thing. We won the toss and batted first so we won."

Ganguly spoke about the controversial Wanderers pitch and said he has never seen a wicket like that in South Africa and it was an "accident". "In South Africa you don't get such wickets. I have played (in) 5-6 (tours) there, and I think it was an accident. In future, it won't happen I think," Ganguly said.

He later praised Virar Kohli evolving batting. "He is remarkable. He is one of the best in the world at the moment and that's the way it is. Like him, budding cricketers have to adapt to different conditions and have to have the skill."

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 31 Jan, 2018

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