The Indian Premier League has really boosted careers and made dreams come true for many talented cricketers who wanted to play for India. Guys like Hardik Pandya and Yashasvi Jaiswal first showed what they could do in the IPL, which then got them into the national team.
As the 18th IPL season kicks off this Saturday in Kolkata, Suresh Raina, who used to play for India, thinks the league has given young stars a place to grow and helped some become great captains.
We’ve seen loads of players get better and then move on to play internationally. India has won the World Cup, the Champions Trophy, and the T20 World Cup, and we’ve watched young players become captains. Just look at Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and all the fast bowlers who got their start in the league, Raina said.
Now, we have a cool group of new cricketers coming up. I really like Tilak Varma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rinku Singh. Plus, Axar Patel is the new captain for Delhi Capitals, he said.
Raina, who’s a big deal in the IPL himself, scored 5528 runs in 205 matches. He hit one century and 39 half-centuries and won four titles with Chennai Super Kings.
Now that he’s done playing cricket, Raina is a commentator. He believes that doing well in just one IPL season can get a player into the international scene.
The main thing for young players is to stay focused and keep playing well. If you score 500 runs in a season, you could end up playing for your country. Each IPL season is a chance to get better, be more confident, and work on your skills and how you approach the game. The IPL is all about stepping up when it matters and always trying to improve, he said.
The first game of the IPL 2025 has the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, playing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens this Saturday. But, there’s a good chance it might rain since the weather folks have issued an orange alert for West Bengal, including Kolkata.
