Today is the last day of the 18th season of the IPL. The players of Madhya Pradesh performed strongly in the IPL this time. Ten years ago, only 3 players of the state were included in this league, but this time 11 players took part. Mumbai Indians and Chennai
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The captaincy of the team of Royal Challengers Bangalore playing the final is in the hands of MP’s silver Patidar. On the other hand, the Punjab team consists of Shashank Singh who is from MP. Venkatesh Iyer, who was the most expensive player of MP in this IPL, was the vice -captain of Kolkata Knight Riders.
However, the journey here was not so easy for MP. MP improved its basic cricket facilities and patterns to show their strength in the IPL. The coach was first changed, then the State Premier League was launched. Along with this, many such steps were taken, which started changing the picture of cricket in MP.
Learn in this report how MP shines in IPL… This year MP is at the fifth position among the most players giving IPL. After Karnataka (16), Mumbai and Delhi (both 14) and Punjab (12), MP11 players are ranked fifth with Uttar Pradesh.
If the situation was seen 10 years ago, only 3 players from MP joined the IPL. Apart from Naman Ojha, no one was an important player of his team.
Now tell how the picture of cricket in MP changed
On this success of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, Abhilash Khandekar, president of the association, gives 6 reasons for this-
1. strengthened domestic cricket
Khandekar said that this success has not been achieved suddenly. Has been working to strengthen domestic cricket for the last 6 years. In the year 2020–21, Chandrakant Pandit was appointed as the head coach. Under his captaincy, MP reached the final of Ranji tournament for the first time in 1999.
In his training itself, the MP’s team became the champion for the first time in 70 years in 2021-22 Ranji. After this, he reached the semi-finals in 2022-23 and 23-24. Syed reached the final in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2024-25. Chandrakant Pandit is also the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.
2. Madhya Pradesh Premier League started
In the year 2024-25, Madhya Pradesh Premier League was started with the aim of giving a platform to young talents. It benefited a lot in domestic cricket. Some of the players selected in the IPL have come out directly from the MPL. Madhav Tiwari and Aniket Verma have received selection in IPL on the basis of great performance in MPL.
3. Administrative Tighten and Transparent Selection Process
Khandekar said that we took tough decisions in the interest of cricket. The things that were to change were changed. Administrative tightness. This led to the shutdown. Made the selection process transparent. Every player should know that he has been selected only on the basis of performance. Another player can replace him in case of performance.
4. Plan of continuous training
In 2011, the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association launched the Sustainable Training Scheme for the 12-15 Edge Group. The coaching operates under the academy located at Holkar Stadium, which aims to provide continuous training to emerging cricketers. Players like Avesh Khan, Ashutosh Sharma and Rahul Batham have emerged from this program.
5. Not only men, not only focus on female cricket
In the Indian cricket team, players like Silver, Avesh and Venkatesh have been playing, while India’s women’s cricket team as well as girls from Madhya Pradesh are playing in the Women’s Premier League.
6. Search for talents from backward and tribal regions
Focus has been done on cities as well as backward and tribal areas. International players are coming out from Rewa, Seoni, Mandla and Chhatarpur. Now strengthen basic facilities in these areas. Usually, children in backward areas used to get less facilities than big cities, but now they are also giving them equal opportunity.
Players have confidence that they can also play IPL
Brajesh Tomar, Mentor of the Bhopal Leopard Team of former captain of Madhya Pradesh Ranji team, says that this IPL has been the best season for Madhya Pradesh in 18 years. Playing 11 players together in a season is a great achievement. It is the hard work behind it. Today, what we are watching playing is due to the academy of Amay Khurasia. After this, coach Chandrakant Pandit also did a great job.
MPCA has also fixed its basic facilities in backward areas. When the player comes out of the small space, the players of the entire region get encouraged.
These 11 players from Madhya Pradesh played in IPL this season
