Cricketers don’t play just for money: Sourav Ganguly

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a multi-crore game. The controversy over franchise cricket vs. national team started with this event of huge money. Many current cricketers are easily choosing IPL over international cricket. After the sale of IPL broadcasting rights at a high price, the question has arisen again about the IPL.

Will cricketers leave international cricket again and lean towards IPL? BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly disagreed with the question, even though it was raised in the cricket world. The head of the Indian Cricket Board, however, does not think players will play just for the money.

“Money is not always associated with the performance of cricketers,” Sourav told the Times of India. “Otherwise, Anil Kumble, Sunil Gavaskar or Sunil Gavaskar would not have been born. Gavaskar, Dravid, Kumble were paid much less than the current cricketers of their time. Yet playing for India was a matter of great pride for them. They enjoyed the privilege of representing India. I think cricketers don’t just play for money. Every cricketer wants to win a big international tournament for the country, ” he added.

Broadcasting rights in the IPL have been sold for 5 years from 2023 to 2027 for Rs 48,390.5 crore. The IPL is now the second most expensive tournament in the world in terms of broadcasting rights. The BCCI sees the sale of broadcasting rights at such a high price as the result of the BCCI’s long-term plan.

“On broadcasting rights, we have been planning for two years,” he said. “It was beautifully arranged. This has been a very good year for Indian cricket. Domestic cricket got back on the field. We ended it. The IPL has been well organized. The spectators returned to the field. Then sell the broadcasting rights, ” he further added.