Former BCCI Chief Selector Dilip Vengsarkar thinks Test cricket is the best, even though the IPL is fun. Dilip Vengsarkar wants young players to focus on getting good at playing Tests and shared his thoughts at the launch of cricket coach Jwala Singh’s new book, “Pathway to Cricketing Excellence and Beyond.”
Dilip Vengsarkar was a stylish batsman known for his exquisite drives. He anchored the vital number 3 position for India in the late 70s and 80s, alongside legends like Gavaskar and Viswanath. His 16-year career (1976-1992) was decorated with over 6,800 Test runs and 17 centuries. He was a key member of the 1983 World Cup winning team and also led India to victory in the 1988 Asia Cup. Post-retirement, Vengsarkar actively contributed to Indian cricket through coaching and administration.
Dilip Vengsarkar’s tenure as the Chief Selector for the BCCI, spanning roughly two years from 2006, was a period of interesting choices and mixed results. A legendary batsman himself, Vengsarkar brought a wealth of experience to the role. One of his key contributions was identifying and promoting young talent.
Dilip is credited with ushering in Virat Kohli, a future batting star for India, showcasing his belief in backing potential over established names. Vengsarkar also championed players who thrived in Test cricket, a format he deeply respected. He believed success in Tests was the ultimate measure of a cricketer’s ability.
What Dilip Vengsarkar Said
Former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar urged young cricketers on Monday to set their sights on playing and excelling in Test cricket, emphasizing that success in the traditional format truly honors players.
Vengsarkar noted that in today’s times, parents may be tempted by the fame and financial rewards of T20 leagues. However, he stressed that young players should prioritize red-ball cricket, as proficiency in this format would also benefit their performance in other formats.
“Parents are overawed with the success of IPL, its teams and players,” Vengsarkar said.
Vengsarkar, a former chief selector renowned for introducing Virat Kohli to the national team, emphasized that while parents may lean towards grooming their children as batters, bowlers hold equal significance regardless of the format.
He said,
“The bowlers also have a big role to play not just in the IPL but also in Test cricket, they can be match-winners. Try to play Test cricket for your country, if you are a good Test cricketer you can play other formats of the game,”
“You will be rated only by what you have done for the country in Test cricket. IPL is a good format, it is good entertainment and it also meets the finances, which is also very important but Test match cricket is the ultimate.” he further added.
What Jwala Singh Said
Jwala, recognised for mentoring India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal since a young age, highlighted the significance of both parents and the right coaches in a player’s development.
Jwala said while giving insights into his book which he has co-authored with Sreekar Mothukuri,
“When you play any sports there are three pillars, one is the player, the second is the parents and the third is the coach. It has to be a combined effort of all three and that is what this book is about,”
“The parents, today, they watch the IPL and so much of media (attention) and the (overall) outcome, they think their child would become a cricketer and he will earn a lot of money and fame. But that is not the way to play a sport,” added Jwala, also the coach of India batter Prithvi Shaw.
The coach emphasised that if a child shows enough passion, they should be given a certain amount of time to nurture it.
He concluded,
“If any of the parents are thinking that, it is absolutely wrong. If a child has a passion (for the sport) and it continues for (a number of) years, that is how it will work out,”
Also Read: IND vs WI: “Focus Single Mindedly”- Dilip Vengsarkar’s Words of Wisdom For Yashasvi Jaiswal