Brian Lara blaming the IPL for West Indies’ cricket decline makes no sense
Brian Lara has set the cat among the pigeons with his recent statement the IPL – Indian Premier League – is responsible for the decline, or decay, of West Indies cricket. The legend has been in the news since the West Indian Test side was blown away by the Aussies in a Test match held in Sabina Park, at home, recently.
Two days after the legend made the statement, reactions have been very sharp. Obviously, when the Windies side collapsed like a bridge under deluge, the beleaguered West Indies Cricket Board hit the panic button. They reached out to the former legends like Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and Lara. Even someone like Gordon Greenidge, who usually does not do many interviews said the situation was tense.
So, what is the truth in Brian Lara saying the IPL is a curse. If his statement is based on facts and evidence, then cricket fans will welcome it. Perhaps, legend Lara needs to understand that the IPL and several other T20 leagues which have mushroomed the world over are not a curse. To the contrary, the IPL has unearthed talent in Indian cricket.
As for the West Indies being rocked by the Aussies, the decline began long ago. Just to jog the readers’ memory, after the highs of the 1975 and 1979 World Cups in ODI format, where Lloyd was captain, the West Indies side has not been invincible. And when the transition happened from ODIs to the more-speedy T20 format, all countries made an attempt to adapt. India won the first T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa. That the West Indies won the T20 World Cup in 2016 in India cannot be forgotten by Lara. This format has come to rule the world, and people will lament Test cricket is dying. No, that’s not true.
If one samples the way recent Test series viewership figures soared, during the Border Gavaskar Trophy Series in Australia and the ongoing India versus England Test series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, fans are flocking to the stadium. An entertainer like Rishabh Pant did not do well in the IPL 2025 but he chips in handsomely in the Tests. The same applies to many more players, England captain Ben Stokes included.
To be a part of the IPL is now a necessity. And for those who enjoyed the explosive knocks from Chris Gayle, when he played T20 cricket as a professional in several countries, he was sought after. Gayle did make his own decision to leave international cricket and focus on T20 leagues. That was a personal call, after he had done duty for the West Indies national side. And, of course, in the IPL, Gayle-force has been massive.
In India, the IPL effect is felt on state leagues as well. The way state T20 leagues have mushroomed all over is crazy. At the same time, domestic cricket is also there in place. It is not as if players in India can choose only the IPL. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who made a mark for Rajasthan Royals, had proved himself in Ranji Trophy cricket as well.
Brian Lara should realise the downfall of cricket in the West Indies, across formats, happened long ago. His own country hosted the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024 and Rohit Sharma lifted the trophy. Before that, in 2023, the West Indies did not even qualify for the ICC World Cup in ODI format. Again, in the ICC Test Championship Cycles, the West Indies have lagged behind. Lara needs to know one IPL has not ruined the Windies national team. The disintegration is massive and a lot more repair work has to take place. For those who enjoyed the aura of the West Indies cricketers, it died long ago. Lara, please find solutions, not find faults. The IPL has become just too big, like it or lump it.
