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Ian Botham (Source - Twitter)
Cricket in India has always been celebrated as not just a sport but a festival, with a lot of gusto and enthusiasm. The Indian T20 League, founded by the Indian Cricket Board in 2008, has emerged as the most popular and fast-paced contest, which involves different states of India being represented through different teams competing against each other in T20 format matches to claim the title.
Meanwhile England's legendary all-rounder Ian Botham believes that the soul of cricket resides in Test matches only. He said that without Test cricket there is no existence of cricket. Talking about Test cricket, he has also targeted the Indian T20 League. He said that now people in India do not watch Test cricket, they only watch the cash-rich league.
“We’re lucky in England, all the Tests are probably sold out by now for The Ashes, certainly the first four days anyway. They don’t get that anywhere else in the world. In Australia, if England are playing you’ll probably get 75-80,000 on Boxing Day. Most grounds in Test cricket wouldn’t get that in a season," Botham said.
How long do they think this is going to last?: Ian Botham
According to Mirror Sports, 67-year-old England all-rounder Ian Botham has blamed the Indian T20 League for the declining popularity of Test cricket in India. The cricketer also warned that if the players lose interest in Test cricket completely, then the longest format of cricket will also end with it.
“You go to India now and they won’t watch Test cricket. It’s all the Indian T20 League. They earn big money and it sounds great now, but how long do they think this is going to last? Test cricket has been around for 100 years plus, it’s not going to go anywhere. And if we do lose Test cricket, then we’ll lose cricket as we know it. It will become meaningless. To play a Test match is what every player should want to do," the all-rounder said further.
Meanwhile, India will be back in action for the four-match Test series against Australia starting on February 9. India are currently second at the World Test Championship table and will be aiming to book a place in the final that takes place in June later this year. England, meanwhile, are fifth on the table and won't play another Test in the ongoing cycle. The side won 10 matches out of 22, losing eight and drawing four.
Here's how the fans reacted:
India ko har taraf se target kiya ja rha hai
— Vivek ☕wari (@viveeeekk) February 4, 2023
koi na bhai tu bhi aajana comentry krne ipl me. khush?
— Marwadi (@gaitonde07) February 3, 2023
आखिर क्या तकलीफ है इस बुढा को
— KANHAIYA SINGH (@KanahiyaSingh) February 4, 2023
Yeh angrez kisi ko hasta khelte...taraki karte dekh hi nahi sakte
— Abhinav (@porkiyonkabaap) February 4, 2023
Ye sala aaj tak kabhi achha nhi bola hoga India ko leke.
— Alok Patel🇮🇳 (@alok0779) February 3, 2023
— Abhijeet (@Who_Abhijeet) February 4, 2023
Yaad rakhna sale phir ipl me commentary ki bheekh mangne mat aa jana
— Atul Anand (@anandatul2008) February 3, 2023
Cricket in India never goona die so it's goona be forever
— Ayush Verma (@vermaayush1528) February 4, 2023