Ex-Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has praised the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a "marketing manager's dream," detailing how the league has rewritten world cricket economics and enhanced India's reputation in the sport considerably.
With the 2025 IPL season opening big, Sidhu looked back at the evolution of Indian cricket, juxtaposing his own experience playing in England's county championship with today's giant money stakes in the IPL.
"The Indian Premier League is the jewel and has escalated the level of India's pride all over the globe. Previously, we used to travel to play county championship in England in large numbers; now they are the ones who visit our nation because the IPL has been incentivised," said Sidhu in a round-table discussion with IANS as a JioStar Expert.
Referring to the record-breaking ₹21 crore sale of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc in last year's Jeddah mega auction, Sidhu highlighted how the IPL has emerged as a one-of-a-kind commercial success. "Who will provide 21 crores to Mitchell Starc in Australia? It is a dream for a marketing manager. Many criticise, but you have to praise Indian cricket for being administered so beautifully. Indian cricket is so big that it can sell ice to the Eskimos and sand to the Arab," he said.
The 2024 IPL season saw batters dominating the game, with young talents like Abhishek Sharma and Angkrish Raghuvanshi making a significant impact. Addressing the ongoing "Bold vs Gold" debate, Sidhu dismissed any rivalry between generations, stating that the younger players are simply carrying forward the legacy of their predecessors.
There is no versus between the two generations. The young, aggressive generation has been shaped by the golden generation. It is a matter of gigantic pride for India that the younger generation is preparing to take the baton," he added.
With IPL still drawing international talent and transforming the financial face of cricket, Sidhu's remarks reaffirm the league's influence on the sport's future.
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