NEW DELHI: Former India captain and chief selector
Dilip Vengsarkar
emphasized the importance of aspiring youngsters setting their sights on playing and excelling in
Test cricket
. According to him, achieving success in the traditional format brings genuine honour to players.
Vengsarkar pointed out that in today's times, parents might be tempted by the fame and financial rewards associated with success in T20 leagues.
However, he stressed that the primary focus of young players should remain on excelling in red-ball cricket. Mastering this format not only brings true recognition but also lays a solid foundation for success in other formats of the game.
"Parents are overawed with the success of IPL, its teams and players," Vengsarkar said in Mumbai at an event to launch cricket coach
Jwala Singh
's book, titled Pathway to Cricketing Excellence and Beyond.
Vengsarkar, who also served as a former chief selector and is credited for bringing
Virat Kohli
into the national team, emphasised that while parents may lean towards training their children to become batters, it's crucial to recognise the equal importance of bowlers regardless of the format.
"The bowlers also have a big role to play not just in the IPL but also Test cricket, they can be match-winners. Try to play Test cricket for your country, if you are a good Test cricketer you can play other formats of the game," he said.
"You will be rated only by what you have done for the country in Test cricket. IPL is a good format, it is good entertainment and it also meets the finances, which is also very important but Test match cricket is the ultimate," Vengsarkar added.
Jwala, renowned for mentoring India batter
Yashasvi Jaiswal
from a young age, emphasised the pivotal role of parents and the significance of having the right coaches in a player's development journey.
"When you play any sport there are three pillars, one is the player, and the second is the parents and third is the coach. It has to be a combined effort of all three and that is what this book is about," Jwala said while giving insights into his book which he has co-authored with Sreekar Mothukuri.
"The parents, today, they watch the IPL and so much media (attention) and the (overall) outcome, they think their child would become a cricketer and he will earn a lot of money and fame. But that is not the way to play a sport," added Jwala, who has also coached India batter
Prithvi Shaw
.
The coach said if a child is passionate enough, he should be given a certain number of years to harness it.
"If any of the parents are thinking that, it is absolutely wrong. If a child has passion (for the sport) and it continues for (a number of) years, that is how it will work out," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
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