You will love to know that Rajasthan Royals bought the youngest IPL player ever for Rs 1.10 crore while big names like Prithvi Shaw and David Warner have gone unsold.
However, things are heating up on the other side as India eyes a spot in the final of the World Test Championship after the blazing 295-run victory over Australia.
In the last two decades, the cricket landscape in India has undergone a drastic change.
There’s no denying that T20 has taken a firmer foothold in Indian cricket fans’ hearts, and Test Cricket is wrestling with a new set of viewership problems.
Is it not a one-sided debate, though?
So Natural, let’s discover some of the Indian cricket challenges and the significance of T20 leagues in Indian Test Cricket.
The Rise of T20 Leagues in India
There is no doubt that the Indian cricket scene is primarily associated around the world (and I would argue more so in India) with the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Lies the T20 format, ever since the early 2000s, it was introduced but the leagues like IPL did the thing in making them popular.
The fact of the matter is that these leagues portrayed how entertaining cricket can be because the matches were relatively short and lasted 3 to 4 hours.
After India defeated Pakistan in the T20 World Cup finals in 2007, T20 became inseparable from Indian fans’ hearts.
IPL first happened in 2008, that season was a hit and the hit never stopped since.
Since its launch in 2008, the IPL has grown, 6.5 times with revenue from sponsorship, endorsement, and advertisement crossing a new peak of Rs 15,776 crores in 2023, according to data published by GroupM ESP.
This is a wider phenomenon, with other league franchises such as TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League), MPL (Madhya Pradesh League) and many other state leagues being a part of this.
The revenue is not the only catch here. Viewership and entertainment are two other main factors that primarily boost IPL and a few other similar leagues to their stardom.
This year, Star Sports recorded a record-breaking viewership of 510 million for the first 51 matches of IPL.
The 2024 IPL also witnessed a power-packed performance in Bengaluru when SRH scored a whopping 287/5 against RCB, adding more masala to an already spicy season.
The rise of betting in IPL, through formats like Sportsbet IO India, has also given fans more reason to invest their time in this format.
Now that it is clear how big the stake of T20 leagues is in the Indian cricket scene, let us take a look at how this format and it’s associated leagues impact and influence Indian Test Cricket.
T20 Leagues and Test Cricket: Positive Impacts and Challenges
While weighing the impact that T20 leagues and franchises have created on the traditional form of cricket, the Test format, there are several views and voices vouching for both sides.
While many field experts, like Gautam Gambhir, have explicitly spoken about T20 leagues’ negative impacts on Test cricket, there are still some who believe that T20 can usher in a new era of traditional cricket.
Positive Impacts of T20 Leagues on Indian Test Cricket
In spite of the recent trends among fans that favor T20 leagues over Test cricket, there are still a few reasons that can give us hope for the future of the traditional format.
1. Funding and Development
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a staggering revenue of Rs 5,120 crores in 2023, a Himalayan increase of 116%, thanks to media rights and sponsorship deals associated with IPL.
This bumper increase in revenue for the BCCI means that the Board has better funds to increase the infrastructure for traditional formats like Test Cricket.
Funding is also a great booster, as the BCCI announced the Test Cricket Incentive Scheme that allows players to earn more than their match fee if they play more than 50% of the matches in a season.
Such initiatives can encourage more players to get involved in test matches.
2. Fast-Paced Matches
Due to the changing scenario of Indian cricket, players have adapted to the new needs of the game.
Even Test cricket matches have an edge to them these days, with many teams looking forward to giving their best performance.
For example, scores over 500 and 600 have become extremely common in the past few years, with numbers climbing up even as much as 823.
3. Exposure for New Talents
One of the best ways in which T20 leagues support and promote Test cricket is by introducing new talents to the traditional format.
In recent years, talents like Prithvi Shaw, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubham Gill have made it to the Indian Test Cricket team and contributed significantly to its success.
Most of the players come shining from T20 leagues like IPL, as these formats serve as a great place to find emerging potential.
Challenges Faced by Test Cricket Due to T20 Leagues
Positives aside, it is undeniable that the rise of short-format cricket has led to the downfall of traditional formats in many ways.
1. Rapidly Declining Viewership
Data shows that while the overall cricket viewership is on the rise, the fanbase telecasting Test cricket is declining slowly.
Fans, to an extent, are still interested in international Test tournaments and matches, but primarily, the viewership goes to T20 matches and leagues.
This change is also attributed to the rapid change in lifestyle that the Indian fanbase is going through, with everyone having less time for sports and other activities.
2. Changing The Nature of the Format
Recent changes in the format of Test cricket, like Bazball or the decline in defensive batting techniques, are also connected with the popularity of T20 leagues.
Players are bringing in experience from T20s and One-Day matches, turning Test matches into an aggressive format of the sport.
Many legends, like Kevin Pieterson, have commented on the declining quality of techniques, making Test cricket into a “smackers game.”
3. Workload and Injuries
In the past decade, the occurrence of injuries has risen dramatically among cricket players. With players shouldering workload across multiple formats, they barely have time to rest and regain energy for the games.
More often than not, players limit themselves to one format of the game to avoid increased workload and pressure.
Striking a Delicate Balance: The Future of Coexistence of T20 and Test Cricket
With the gap between T20 and Test cricket broadening more than ever, it is time now to look at possibilities that allow both formats to coexist and nurture each other.
Rebranding Traditional Cricket Format
The best way to move forward for Indian Test Cricket is to rebrand the format. With the introduction of the World Test Championship, the format has already piqued interest among the younger generation of cricket fans.
To receive better viewership and fan engagement, the Test cricket format has to be marketed in a way that appeals to the generation that does not have time for longer formats anymore.
Redirecting Funds
The funds and infrastructure dedicated to the Test cricket format have to be revamped. With the BCCI making more revenue than ever, thanks to the T20 leagues, the Board should focus on allocating more funds for the Test cricket series and tournaments for the Indian team.
The infrastructure for players also needs to be improved drastically to sustain the players and provide them enough opportunities for playing continuously.
Role of BCCI
The BCCI has the biggest role to play in creating this future. Apart from funding and rebranding Indian Test Cricket, the Board also has to look into effective marketing and promotional strategies that work for both T20 leagues and Test Cricket.
This way, both formats can impact and influence each other and establish their place in the Indian cricket scenario.
The Bottom Line
Indian Test Cricket has come a long way and will go a long way if BCCI takes up its responsibility to fund the format better.
Although fan preferences are changing, the traditional format still has a long way to go, and T20 leagues can serve as a great promotional tool for the same.
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