‘Test cricket is the mother of all cricket’ – Javagal Srinath urges youngsters to take longer format seriously

Former India pacer Javagal Srinath has called on young cricketers to take Test cricket seriously and not get distracted by the glamour of Twenty20 leagues. Srinath, who represented India across all formats during his playing career, made these remarks at the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association’s Season Awards 2025-26 held at the Brilliant Convention Centre.

Srinath emphasised that Test cricket remains the foundation of a cricketer’s development and should be the primary focus for aspiring players. He highlighted the relationship between Test cricket and shorter formats, explaining how success in the longer game translates to other versions of the sport.

“IPL is important, but you need depth in cricket, which is there in Tests. Test cricket is a five-day format, which is why it is called the ‘mother of all cricket.’ A player who plays Test cricket can also find it easier to play T20 cricket, but for someone who only plays T20 cricket, playing Test cricket is not as easy. Stick to Test cricket, the longer version of the game. Alongside that, you can also play T20,” Srinath said as quoted by NDTV Sports.

Why Test cricket matters for young players

Srinath’s perspective stems from his own experience as a fast bowler who took 236 Test wickets during his international career spanning from November 1991 to October 2002. He also became India’s leading ODI wicket-taker, accumulating 315 wickets across 229 one-day internationals. His career demonstrated the value of mastering the longer formats before transitioning to shorter versions.

The former pacer stressed that the attraction of Twenty20 leagues, particularly the Indian Premier League, should not overshadow the importance of Test cricket for long-term career development. He noted that parents, state associations and coaches have a responsibility to guide young players towards building a sustainable cricket career. Srinath pointed out that Test cricket offers stability and longevity that Twenty20 formats cannot provide, as players face rapid rotation in shorter leagues.

“It is natural (to get attracted to the IPL). There is more glamour and all of it. Parents, state associations, coaches, etc should guide their children regarding their cricket. If you want to make it a profession for 15 years, you have to play Tests. You get rotated really quickly in T20s,” Srinath said.