NZ beat IND – Did IPL 2021 cost India the T20 World Cup? – Team India’s Semi-Finals hopes are dashed seriously after humiliating defeats to Pakistan & New Zealand. The Men in Blue needed to win against the Kiwis to stay ahead of the curve in the race for the top two spots in Group 2, but the defeat leaves them in tatters and staring at a potential exit. Virat Kohli and Co. have put in lacklustre performances in both games, begging the question, did IPL 2021 cost India T20 World Cup?
NZ beat IND: Did IPL 2021 cost India T20 World Cup? Was 100 Cr+ salary earning team tired?
Normally updebat Indian players looked jaded in the World Cup. The team looked timid, tired & lacked the fight in both the games. Indian batsman could only put-up sub-par totals in both matches & with bowl in 2 games, India has bagged just two wickets.
Were Indian players tired? Did IPL 2021 made them jaded? Did non-stop cricket before the World Cup cost them this cup?
Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah pointed out at fatigue is a major part with the Men in Blue having played constant cricket over the past few months. Speaking in the post-match press conference, Jasprit Bumrah said,
“You need a break. We have been on the road for six months. It does play in our minds. But BCCI has tried their best to help out but it does creep in at times when you miss your family for such a long time. Bubble fatigue definitely a factor but when we take the field we do not think about those.”
- Team India travelled to England in May earlier this year, before entering quarantine for the WTC final against New Zealand.
- After a two month break which included a 14-day quarantine to enter the bio bubble, India began their five test match tour of England.
- A COVID-19 outbreak saw India backing out of the fifth Test in Manchester, but chose to prioritise the IPL 2021, returning to the UAE to play for their franchises.
- Players again underwent a six-day quarantine and played the tournament, which ended on October 14, 10 days before India’s opening game against Pakistan.
- India lost to Pakistan and played New Zealand after a week-long break, but lost by eight wickets to put their semi-final hopes in jeopardy.
NZ beat IND: Did IPL 2021 cost India T20 World Cup? Was 100 Cr+ salary earning team tired?
Some fans & cricket experts have also pointed out that fat-pay cheques at IPL also makes team less motivated playing for the country.
Some even went to the extent of saying, performance in IPL gives Indian cricketers ‘false high’ as ‘there is huge difference in playing for franchises with just 3-4 quality cricketers & the international teams laced with top performers’, said a commentator post match.
Team India Playing XI vs NZ and their IPL 2021 salaries
- Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians) – Rs 6.2 crore
- KL Rahul (Punjab Kings)- Rs 11 crore
- Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians) – Rs 15 crore
- Virat Kohli(c) (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – Rs 17 crore
- Rishabh Pant(w) (Delhi Capitals) – Rs 15 crore
- Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians) – Rs 11 crore
- Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings) – Rs 7 crore
- Shardul Thakur (Chennai Super Kings) – Rs 2.6 crore
- Mohammed Shami (Punjab Kings) – Rs 6.2 crore
- Varun Chakravarthy (Kolkata Knight Riders)- Rs 4.8 crore
- Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians) – Rs 7 crore
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