No miss and no hit!

Driven by their passion for the game, cricketers in the past have displayed extraordinary courage, endured unbearable pain and injuries with the sole aim of representing their country.

like great men Sunil Gavaskar And Mohinder ‘Jimmy’ Amarnath displayed remarkable resilience. Jimmy continued to play despite various injuries, including being hit on the head by Richard Hadlee in the English summer of 1979 and suffering a hairline fracture. Gavaskar scored a brilliant unbeaten 147 at Georgetown in 1983 after taking a powerful blow to the forehead from Malcolm Marshall.

Ravi Shastri, known for his mental toughness, faced a tough time on the 1982–83 tour of Pakistan, where captain Gavaskar asked him to open the batting in the final Test. Despite a hand injury, Shastri batted for a long time and scored 128 runs against Pakistani fast bowling. This serious performance possibly changed the course of his career.
In the 1980–81 Down Under series, Sandeep Patil was hit on the head by Len Pascoe. After being sent to hospital, he defied the strong Australian pace attack in the next Test in Adelaide and scored a brilliant inning of 174 runs.

Commitment at all levels

Anshuman Gaikwad faced brutal balls at Kingston in 1976, including a ball from Michael Holding which hit his left ear, but he refused to give up. The commitment of these players went beyond the international level. Even at the lower levels (in this case the Kanga League), players like this columnist played despite the pain, highlighting their passion for the game.

During that era, players were motivated by emotions rather than professionalism, as monetary rewards were not a significant motivator. With a limited number of international series per season, missing out on an opportunity means a longer wait to rejoin the Indian team. This challenge was a great motivator, inspiring the players to enthusiastically pursue their goal of representing India. This era was characterized by the players’ dedication and love for the game, making sacrifices and enduring pain for the joy of playing cricket.

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At that time players did not have fancy gyms or personal trainers. He stayed fit by spending time practicing in the nets, bowling and batting. Their diet was simple, with limited funds often relying on home-cooked meals. The equipment they used was not advanced by today’s standards.

Nowadays, players adopt a more professional approach. They have better opportunities and financial security. The cricket calendar consists of various series, which provide players with a chance to break into the national team. The IPL acts as a safety net, allowing players to leave for other sports without losing their place in the team.

Change gives rise to challenges

However, this change has created some challenges. Players, especially IPL players, sometimes skip important domestic tournaments, affecting the quality of competition. This creates a problem for teams and associations investing in talent development. The BCCI, which financially supports these associations, sees the IPL as a major contributor to their funds. To resolve this issue, BCCI should think about rescheduling Ranji Trophy. Moving it to October-December and having shorter games in January can provide adequate practice to IPL players while keeping the Ranji Trophy prestigious and competitive. This adjustment will balance the players’ readiness for the IPL while keeping in mind the preferences of the new generation, who love quick and action-packed cricket as much as fast food.

1983 World Cup player Balwinder Singh Sandhu could swing and turn the ball