‘TNPL will be a trend-setter’

The former Indian player was referring to the under-19 and districts players in the TNPL mix and said he would definitely play an under-19 player if he is good, though rules only state that there should be two under-19 and two districts players in the team but they need not be fielded in the playing XI. 

“I don’t care. I want my best team to get at the park,” Badani told DT Next ahead of the Player Draft of TNPL scheduled for July 30. 

About the players he would like to have in his team, Badani said it was not in his hands. “It is not an auction. The only advantage I have is I am second on the list (South Chennai was the second best bidder),” the former international explained. “Even that (second on the list) is not a big deal. If I get a good batsman in my first attempt and if the eighth team goes away with the best bowler, that is it,” he said and added coaching was an easier job than performing during the Player Draft.

Badani does not harp too much on who all he will get for his team from the ‘top player bracket’ (outstation and TN internationals), though he knows that the likes of Dinesh Karthick, R Ashwin, Hardik Pandya and Piyush Chawla would be on everyone’s list.

“Look the best part of this league is that it is a window for upcoming players to showcase their talent,” said Badani. “Look at someone like Washington Sundar or J Kaushik, who was recently picked the State Cricketer of the Year. Kaushik is from the districts and he got the award ahead of some big names from the city. He is a good medium-pacer, batsman and a good fielder.” 

The former Indian middle-order batsman strongly believes the city is not dominant enough in modern cricket. “Look at Baroda, Ranchi, Saurashtra and UP from where Indian cricketers have emerged in the last decade. It is going to be the same with Tamil Nadu. The TNPL played under lights in Tirunelveli, Natham etc and televised all over the world will bring more interest to the game and the future of TN cricket is there. It will be a trend-setter,” Badani said.

Badani noted it was refreshing to see the revenue generated by the TNPL (Rs 33 crore). “A similar league in Karnataka (KPL) brought in only half of this amount and more importantly, you don’t see the traditional cricket corporates like MRF and India Cements in this,” he added.