The player needs to back their domestic heroics with an IPL performance to get into the Indian side: Wasim Jaffer

Many Indian players have been rated highly and are also believed that they will be representing India in times to come. Similarly, the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan are among the players who have had really solid domestic seasons but have failed to replicate that form in the ongoing IPL 2023 so far.

The former Indian opener feels that players like Prithvi Shaw, who has done well in the past will definitely bounce back from it and Jaffer also backed his statement by saying that it has even happened with bigger players. Shaw has scored only 47 runs in the 6 innings that he has played so far which is not ideal for some of his calibre and with the performances that he has had in the past.

Citing the example of the coveted tournament, Syed Mushtaq Ali, the veteran opener further opined that in such competitions a player is representing their respective state and despite any failure in some matches, they can always bounce back considering the chances available there unlike the IPL. Many players are ready to grab the opportunity in case a player does not perform up to the mark in the mega cricket carnival. Furthermore, taking up the case of Shaw, he iterated that such things have happened even with renowned players in the IPL and so the Mumbai-born batter is no exception to being out of colour in the shortest format.

We have seen bigger players haven't done well: Jaffer

"Prithvi has done well, this is the only season where he hasn't met expectations but he has been a prolific scorer for Delhi along with Warner. But this can happen. In this format, we have seen far bigger players haven't done well. Hopefully, he will bounce back stronger," Jaffer was quoted as saying by MyKhel.

The former Indian opener also spoke about Sarfaraz Khan who was in sublime touch in the domestic circuit. But the 25-year-old has failed miserably in the ongoing IPL 2023 as he has scored just 53 runs in the 5 outings that he has for Delhi Capitals.

“Sarfaraz also had three prolific domestic seasons. To score 1000 runs for almost three seasons is unthinkable but he hasn't backed that up with IPL performance," Jaffer added. "Now if you want to come to the Indian side, he's got to back up the domestic performance with IPL. But unfortunately, he hasn't done that," Jaffer added.

Notably, Sarfaraz has scored 3,505 runs at 79.65, with 13 hundred and nine fifties in 37 games, whereas Shaw has scored 3679 runs at 51.09, with 12 hundreds and fifteen fifties in 42 first-class matches. The pair, meanwhile, failed to take advantage of their IPL opportunity.

Additionally, talking about the challenges faced by players in the mega event, Jaffer believes that factors like price tag and performance both hold the key which takes the pressure level of the IPL to another level. Moreover, he also pointed out the difference in skills and levels of bowling standards between the IPL and Indian domestic competitions. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings will clash with Delhi Capitals in a must-win game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday, May 13.