‘Sabse bada Ruppaih’ – Twitter gives mixed reaction as Harsha Bhogle reminds fans about ECB’s journey of ’embracing’ Indian T20 League
Harsha Bhogle, Ben Stokes (Image Credit: Twitter)
On December 23, hundreds of players went under the hammer during the Indian T20 League 2023 player auction. During the event, English players such as Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, and Harry Brook bagged big bucks. The England Test skipper was bagged by Chennai for 16.25 crores. On the other hand, Curran was signed by Punjab for 18.5 crores and Brook went for 13.25 crores in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, renowned commentator, Harsha Bhogle took a cheeky dig at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). He took to Twitter and reminded the fans about how the ECB used to shun the league in the early years. For the unversed, only a few players such as Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, and Eoin Morgan used to play in the tournament before 2015.
However, after England’s disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign made them rethink their white-ball strategy. The ECB, led by Andrew Strauss at the time decided to prioritize limited-overs cricket. In the process, they also started allowing more and more players to play in the biggest T20 league. Since then, the team has won an ODI and a 20-20 World Cup from 2019 to 2022.
Meanwhile, Bhogle wrote “England cricket’s U-turn on the IPL is now complete. From being shunned as “evil” in its early days to this warm embrace now, it has been quite a change. And the English players will enrich the IPL even more.”
England cricket's U-turn on the IPL is now complete. From being shunned as "evil" in its early days to this warm embrace now, it has been quite a change. And the English players will enrich the IPL even more
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 23, 2022
In reply, the fans have left their opinions on Harsha’s comments. Up until now, the reaction have been mixed as some are agreeing and some are not.
This is how Twitter reacted
“Sabse bada Ruppaih”
— PRAKASH WAKANKAR (@pakwakankar) December 23, 2022
Thy want to play in Indian pitches to get comfortable
Thy are looking to defend WC— Juilius Sneezer (@itsmewhocares11) December 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/iPriyankaBhatt/status/1606328627108499458?s=20&t=sZVIvKNuxbdDEACOGQfr_g
Being so happy & proud about the Indian Premier League but I won’t be happy until & unless Team India delivers it big on the international stage benefitting from the IPL!!
Until then, it will just be an Indian Entertainment League..— Dr Vivek Vithalani (@vithalani_vivek) December 23, 2022
Enrich is right- they are enriching themselves- the effort while playing for some random franchise for a lot of money & when playing for England is stark. Root for 1 crore- really – guess a paid 5 star vacation- all he has to do is say Kohli is the best & collect a check.
— Arun Srinivasan (@ArunSOpines) December 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/sidharthone/status/1606330655196844033?s=20&t=sZVIvKNuxbdDEACOGQfr_g
When products from ivy league institutions back and praise one of the most corrupt franchises and organizations in the history of the world, you know the world is all about keeping the job. What else will HB do without the blessings of the BCCI, afterall.
— Sorabh Sodhani (@sorabhsodhani) December 24, 2022
The problem is that the IPL has expanded so much that it encroaches into the English season.
It doesn't just overlap the CC, it now overlaps the T20 Blast as well.— Simon Hancock (@simonhancock_uk) December 24, 2022
Other way around- they have leveraged IPL to learn and win in the white ball format. On the other hand, Indian cricket has mostly frittered away the benefits at the altar of money/senseless drama. Our commentariat has mostly been bystanders….
— Amar Vaidya (@amar_in_vaidya) December 23, 2022
Lol u didn’t get their strategies, they want their best players to play in IPL2023 because it’s a world cup year as it will be host in India and English players want to experience the conditions before the mega events.
— Ankit Diyora (@thatdecemberboy) December 23, 2022
Still Michael Vaughan gang will say blah blah , please don’t work with him and tell cric buzz guys not to use him .
— Ashok Subramanian (@ashoktwitting) December 23, 2022
Talking about the tournament, it is reported that the 16th season of the league will start on April 1 next year. Gujarat will be the defending champions as they won the 2022 season.
