‘Clearly he has not moved on, too much attitude’ – Michael Holding's 'IPL not cricket' remark leaves Twitter offended

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most celebrated T20 competitions worldwide, with many prominent cricketers plying their trade in the gala tournament. In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that the marquee league has been a festival for many fans over the years. After all, T20 stars from different nations join forces, resulting in a great battle between the bat and ball.

Players from West Indies have played a crucial role in the popularity and success of IPL. From Chris Gayle, Andre Russell to Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, numerous Caribbean stars have set the Indian tournament on fire. However, every member of the West Indies cricket fraternity doesn’t have great a love for IPL. In an interaction former pacer and renowned commentator, Michael Holding cheekily suggested that IPL doesn’t come under cricket.

Fans not happy with Michael Holding

Holding made the sensational statement in a conversation with the New Indian Express. On being asked whether he is interested in the prospect of commentating in the IPL, the 67-year-old came up with a one-liner which became the talk of the town. “I only commentate on cricket,” Michael Holding said. Needless to say, the veteran’s remarks didn’t go down well with IPL and he subsequently received massive criticism.

Michael Holding is a delusional man, and bitter. Maybe for him, Cricket means Windies cricketers going on a strike because the Board kept asking them to play without a contract. Maybe players getting paid on time doesn't constitute his idea of Cricket. https://t.co/J6QOu1mebo

— अंकित 'ममता' त्यागी 🚩🇮🇳 (@sh_atyagi) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding when asked why he doesn't do Commentary in IPL

Michael Holding said " I only commentate on Cricket "

😭

— Virarsh (@Cheeku218) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding is a living legend, but he is way off-mark. IPL has made test cricket more exciting and democratised cricket economics in India. Its a net force for good… https://t.co/QCdamHbLlG

— Somnath Mukherjee (@somnath1978) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding is a legend. Hope he realizes that IPL has in fact made it possible for youngsters to choose cricket as a career, thereby enhancing the talent pool of cricketers.
Game always need to invent itself – else it will fail to meet the demand of generations.

— D Prasanth Nair (@DPrasanthNair) June 28, 2021

It's not IPL only Michael Holding doesn't think that the T20 format is cricket. He once famously said that "T20 is not a cricket and Kiron Pollard is not a cricketer." He said about his dislike towards this format in an interview with @gauravkapur which is available on #YouTube

— Siddharth Chhaya – સિદ્ધાર્થ છાયા 🇮🇳 (@siddtalks) June 28, 2021

Clearly he hasn't moved on and it's ok. Nobody needs validation from Michael holding to play in the IPL and vice versa.

— LoL (@YorkerFc) June 28, 2021

“Rarely pulls his punches”. Yet, total Omerta on how black African players in Windies team openly mocked players of Indian heritage like Alvin Kallicharan.
Let’s not even get into the absurd labeling of IPL in particular as “not cricket”.
PoDa. https://t.co/jRwy9oi8RM

— Kartik Sivaraman (@calm_sutra) June 28, 2021

Drama hain kya IPL ??
Michael Holding means this I think … https://t.co/4sjZCdKxSW

— Arup Pathak (@ArupPat65159869) June 28, 2021

The irony died.. when Michael holding plays kerry Parker instead for west indies.. giving gyan on ipl is not crkt.. damn this fellow is arseheat.. the question is has ever bcci asked holding to commentate in ipl.

— Gourisankar Panda (@bapu101) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding was never in favour of Indians & Indian cricket and never favoured it, he still cannot forget the 1983 defeat. Minutely following his commentary one can understand that very much. Not glorifying @IPL but one needs to connect the dots.

— Dibyendu Kumar Banik (@dkbanik1587) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding was never in favour of Indians & Indian cricket and never favoured it, he still cannot forget the 1983 defeat. Minutely following his commentary one can understand that very much. Not glorifying @IPL but one needs to connect the dots.

— Dibyendu Kumar Banik (@dkbanik1587) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding has too much attitude..all his country players ignore International matches for IPL..PSL….his comment is bakwas…

— @imbanerji (@imbanerji) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding is a delusional man, and bitter. Maybe for him, Cricket means Windies cricketers going on a strike because the Board kept asking them to play without a contract. Maybe players getting paid on time doesn't constitute his idea of Cricket. https://t.co/J6QOu1mebo

— अंकित 'ममता' त्यागी 🚩🇮🇳 (@sh_atyagi) June 28, 2021

BCCI should rename IPL to World Series Cricket maybe then Michael Holding would have no problem commentating.

— Ramakrishna (@rooney_siddu) June 28, 2021

Sir Michael Holding calls T20 'not Cricket' so obviously he wouldn't like IPL either or commentate on it, for he doesnt like.
Dont understand y people hate IPL? The improved Indian team which he reckons is where IPL plays a part too.
How these fools will even understand his book?

— Ryan (@i_am_IPL) June 28, 2021

The irony died.. when Michael holding plays kerry Parker instead for west indies.. giving gyan on ipl is not crkt.. damn this fellow is arseheat.. the question is has ever bcci asked holding to commentate in ipl.

— Gourisankar Panda (@bapu101) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding is a legend. Hope he realizes that IPL has in fact made it possible for youngsters to choose cricket as a career, thereby enhancing the talent pool of cricketers.
Game always need to invent itself – else it will fail to meet the demand of generations.

— D Prasanth Nair (@DPrasanthNair) June 28, 2021

Michael Holding in a recent interview when asked why he does not do commentary in the #IPL served a savage response saying that,

"I only commentate on Cricket." #Cricket #T20

— Aditya Singh Rawat (@Catslayer_999) June 28, 2021

Drama hain kya IPL ??
Michael Holding means this I think … https://t.co/4sjZCdKxSW

— Arup Pathak (@ArupPat65159869) June 28, 2021

Sir Michael Holding calls T20 'not Cricket' so obviously he wouldn't like IPL either or commentate on it, for he doesnt like.
Dont understand y people hate IPL? The improved Indian team which he reckons is where IPL plays a part too.
How these fools will even understand his book?

— Ryan (@i_am_IPL) June 28, 2021

Notably, this is not the first time the former cricketer has expressed his displeasure over the 20-over format. Holding, a veteran of 391 international wickets, has repeatedly slammed West Indies cricket for focusing on T20 cricket, suggesting the format isn’t what the game stands for.

Coming back to IPL, the 2021 edition of the gala tournament was scheduled to take place in April and May. However, the competition was postponed midway on May 4 owing to the COVID-19 crisis in India. The remaining part of the tournament will now take place in UAE. It is set to resume on September 18.

Notably, the tournament will be followed by the high-voltage ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Hence, there are questions over the participation of many foreign players. While the absence of contracted England players is certain, several other foreign stars are likely to pull out due to the travel and quarantine protocols.