Subramaniam Badrinath, who played two Tests, seven ODIs and one T20I for India, is unlikely to play first-class cricket this season.
“I have got some offers but I don't think I will be playing this year. I have taken that call. I am just going to play TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League) and let's see," he said.
"In all probability, I will not be playing first-class cricket. It has been a long time since I have made my debut, I haven't had any break since then. It has been continuous first-class cricket. It was challenging, there was lot of travel. Realistically, I don't have a chance to play international cricket or IPL. Having said that, it is a personal decision. I don't feel like I have to keep going on and on. It was more of a personal decision rather than anything else. I have a young family, a eight-year-old daughter,” Badrinath said.
ROBIN SINGH: 'SENIOR GUYS ARE EASY TO COACH'
Robin Singh, who is the coach of the Bradinath-led Karaikudi Kaalai, said that he didn't know about the Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli controversy.
“I didn't even know what was going on, I was not even in India.”
He, however, pointed out that as a coach he would like to work with people who he knows.
He said, “I like to work with people I know. I don't like working with people I don't know. It is about the comfort level. Having said that you have to work with people who can understand and execute.”
Speaking about coaching at different leagues and at international level ahead of the second season of TNPL, Robin said, “The senior guys are pretty easy to coach. It is about understanding what they need and trying to understand what you can pick up from them to pass on to the younger guys. The challenge is to understand what the younger guys can do.”
“In the two months of IPL, we go through rigorous training. We see that the standards of the cricketers are lifted. After IPL, you will see many guys go on to play at various levels. Unfortunately, at the lower levels or state level, you don't get that same level of intensity. So we try to make the youngsters understand that to play with the big boys, you have to be at that standard or else you don't fit in. Just like players, we coaches need to set a standard from a franchise point of view.”
ROBIN: 'PLAYERS NEED EXPOSURE'
Robin also added that the inclusion of outstation players in TNPL would have helped the local cricketers in developing and improving their game.
“Tamil Nadu league was the best league when I played and when Badrinath played the local league. We had a few outstation players. So, I don't see any harm. We have got the experience playing against these players."
"Twenty years ago, we played a lot of club cricket, company cricket against international cricketers across India that really helped us developed our cricket. That is the exposure we got. Now if you translate that and put it the other way around, TNPL is literally similar."
"What players need is exposure. They need exposure at the right time, not when they are old. Guys who get an exposure when they are doing well, when they confident, when there is an opportunity, with television today and it is such a big country, you never know what he will find. So it is important that people have an open mind for these tournaments.”
BADRINATH: 'OUTSTATION PLAYERS AREN'T NECESSARY'
Badrinath, who is the captain of Karaikudi Kaalai, echoed Robin's views, but added that the outstation players are not needed for the success of the tournament.
“If outstation players come and play this tournament, definitely the pedigree of the tournament will improve, which ultimately will benefit the players who are playing. The real essence of TNPL is taking cricket to the smaller areas — Tirunelvelli, Natham — may be next year there will be a ground in Coimbatore. If you see last year, there were guys we didn't know about but ended up playing IPL. Nobody knew about a (T.) Natarajan or a (N.) Jagadeesan. Even in TNPL, I didn't know about Rajkumar or Sonu Yadav, who came in and did well. That is the real success for this tournament.”
“But, if you ask if the outstation players are needed, then I will say they are not needed for this tournament. However, if they come and play, it will take the tournament to the next level.”
Speaking about having a premier league for women, Robin said, “In India, you can have a league. It is a big country. If you want to find more and more women cricketers play, then why not. Australia has a league. They will probably have less players playing. There is no harm. There is enough money in the system to support a league.”
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