Sanjay Manjrekar, a former batter for India, is perplexed by the IPL generation’s ability to adjust to the demands of Test cricket with such ease. He likened pop artists trying to execute classical ragas to the shift from Twenty20 cricket to the longest game.
Manjrekar emphasised the differences between the two forms and the challenge he perceives in switching between them during a broadcast debate. He framed his opinion regarding the unexpected success of the IPL generation in Test cricket with a comparison to classical music.
India Today quotes Manjrekar as saying, “Modern pop singers, if they are asked to do classical singing, ragas, then it will be very difficult. But these people are doing that. It is a mystery to me that the generation of IPL, the generation of T20, how do they play such good Test cricket?”
Manjrekar was astounded by how a generation that grew up playing Twenty20 cricket has developed the mental and technical skills needed to be successful in red-ball cricket. He claimed that their success in Tests is even more remarkable because of the glaring differences between the two formats.
Test and Twenty20 cricket have quite distinct batting requirements. In order to maximise runs in a constrained number of overs, batters in Twenty20 cricket must take an attacking stance from the start, scoring quickly and taking calculated risks. In contrast, test cricket requires patience, self-control, and the capacity to focus for long stretches of time while systematically constructing an innings.
He further added, “More in the case of batting, because there is a lot of difference between T20 batting and Test batting.”
Indian cricketers have had regular exposure to high-stress Twenty20 cricket thanks to the IPL, which has also given them the chance to train in shared changing rooms with seasoned foreign players. A generation of players with notable T20 credentials and early exposure to elite cricket has been produced as a result of this experience.
When the format calls for it, a few of the players from the IPL generation have effectively transferred their style to Test cricket, showing that they can control their attacking tendencies. Many of the players in India’s current Test team were predominantly developed through IPL involvement, but they have adjusted their batting philosophy and game knowledge to perform well in the longer format.
