‘Try to play Test cricket for your country’ - Dilip Vengsarkar urges youngsters to shift focus from IPL

Former India cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has urged young cricketers in India to focus on the longest format of the game instead of the IPL (Indian Premier League). The 68-year-old opined that the true honour comes with excelling in red-ball cricket.

The former skipper noted that the parents of the young cricketers are attracted to the huge money rewards in the IPL and the fame that comes with the T20 league. He revealed that apart from the IPL, competing in the longest format at a domestic level will help them improve their game in every aspect rather than just power-hitting. 

"Parents are overawed with the success of IPL, its teams and players, the bowlers also have a big role to play not just in the IPL but also 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," Vengsarkar said at an event to launch cricket coach Jwala Singh's book.

You will be rated only by what you have done for the country in Test cricket: Vengsarkar

Vengsarkar opined that while the IPL is a good platform for the youngsters of the country, every cricketer will be remembered for his contribution in Test cricket, and that is something that youngsters should strive for.

"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," Vengsarkar said.

Jwala Singh, who is known to have taken dynamic batter Yashasvi Jaiswal under his tutelage at a very young age, reflected on how the combined effort of the player, his parents, and the coach makes a great player. 

"When you play any sports there are three pillars, one is the player, and the second is the parents and third is the coach. It has to be a combined effort of all three and that is what this book is about," Singh said.