Test cricket got pace, got a rhythm and spread a new charm amongst the cricket lovers, courtesy One-day cricket.

Whenever I hear the word 'Cricket' it reminds me about the longer-version format of the game i.e. Test cricket - a combination of class with perfection, skills with shades of caliber and patience with volume of potential and One-day cricket where thrill and chill meets the above mentioned tributaries to produce the perfect package which indeed defines a cricketer's character.

Enters T20 cricket in the scene to invite a change and yes it has changed cricket but sadly many astonishing tributaries are in a threat to ebb away from a player.

Before T20 cricket arrived in the scene, I loved the commitment levels amongst the players. But as soon as T20 cricket arrived I just can't find it. I can see country's representation has become less important while playing for a club has become the most important.

Like cricket is said to be an explanation of one's life, describing different phases of human emotions in just a game; change in life-style brought change in game. A version of T20 cricket took place - a promise of 3 hours fun from same players with more energy and enthusiasm running in the background within same standard of gentleman's game.

Within a shorter period of time more sixes were guaranteed with extreme entertainment ensured more followers of this format. It wasn't enough though, when the concept of 'IPL' worm took place to capitalize fame of T20 cricket.

IPL - abbreviated as Indian Premier League, debuted in 2008 with a bang. That amount of success, acknowledgement and response were new to cricket. Even, it spooked EPL of football - world's most followed league. High money investment, inclusion of world's most reckoned players at one platform, 45-days of back to back 3-hours fun, raining of sixes with added fun of 'Cheer Girls' brought glamour to cricket.

It was the beginning. Cricket circus has begun. Success of season-1 turned in African Safari in 2009 with a word of every year's entertainment.

But soon, the added flavor started to cost cricket badly. 45 days of non-stop cricket, being staged at different grounds demanded high fitness standards to perform. Injuries and niggles were omitted by players in order to cash their talent in bank accounts. Playing for club became priority over nation. Retirement from longer version for sake of 'less injuries' as excuses became headlines.

Just to discount cricketers' abilities, I wonder how BCCI announced an extended version of IPL as CLT20 - a kind of World Cup at club level cricket across the globe. Are you not gaining enough from your gems at International level?

At times I just feel sorry when I find young cricketers prime aim to secure an IPL place rather than representing the country.

Where the spirit has gone?

IPL began with a promise to improve domestic structure of cricket in India. Inclusion of foreign players is restricted to four players per team in order to motive uncapped players that later derived club owners to assured win. A belief to improve domestic standard and figure-out future talent is overwhelmed by adopted injuries of Indian team members.

Though, IPL brought many talents in light precise to their recognizable time, yet the damage can't be skipped. If it became life-line of retired cricketers like Shane Warne, Adam GilChrist, Shaun Pollock, Stephen Fleming, Saurav Ganguly etc. it also has short cut many careers like Andrew Flintoff, Brett Lee and Lasith Malinga.

Undoubtedly, it gave many stars to Indian team with like of Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin, Umesh Yadav etc. yet it didn't promise potential of any one. All these stars that sparkled through IPL were forgotten after some International appearances.

Apparently, it was the same Indian team that lifted World Cup last year but weren't able to relish the same a year later due to their consistent poor performance in away series. They lost eight Test matches in a row abroad due to lack of poor batting temperament which is badly affected by IPL's black claws.

But it was not to be as IPL was supposed to improve our cricket and cricketers.

Reply honestly, how many of you had celebrated World Cup anniversary two days back?

If India can win the World Cup before IPL, then why they were defeated enormously in every next Test series abroad? I'm not against IPL trend; even I too wait for it every year. But for sake of entertainment don't give fake words of improvement. If the intention is to just capitalize money then don't bet on talents at least.

I want IPL to be 'Indian Premier League' and not 'Indian Commercial League'. Let the BCCI's highly emphasized improvement be only in improving India's cricket rather than swelling up the bank accounts by sacrificing a cricketer's fitness, energy and commitment levels.

I dislike those entertainments which hamper a nation's happiness through poor batsmanship, poor quality bowling and poor temperament in the actual format of cricket - Test cricket. I want India to win rather than the Rajasthan Royals.

The IPL-5 has kicked off. There will 45 days of entertainment but will it guarantee team India's improvement while performing abroad in a Test match?
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