IPL 2021: Kumar Sangakkara names players from the past who could have succeeded in IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the best T20 tournaments going around in world cricket. While several other tournaments like Big Bash League (BBL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL) also enjoy a massive fanbase, the supremacy of the IPL remains untouched.

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Former Sri Lanka cricketer Kumar Sangakkara has been associated with IPL since its inception in 2008. As a player, he represented multiple teams, including Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Over the last few years, he’s been with Rajasthan Royals as Director of Cricket.

T20 is a fairly new format as compared to ODI and Test cricket, and it was only in 2000 that this format of the game was played. Often people wonder what if T20 or franchise cricket was available in the pre-modern era, had it been as successful as it is now and how some of the legends would have performed? In a recent interaction, Sangakkara named a few players from the past who could have dominated this format of the game.

“Going by ability, Aravinda de Silva, Brian Lara, Viv Richards, Gary Sobers, Don Bradman. The list goes on. It’s not just a small group of players. Ian Botham, you know, so many from so many countries who would have done extremely well. The Saeed Anwars, Imran Khans. You can take your pick. The list is long,” Sangakkara told Khaleej Times in an exclusive chat.

While Sangakarra is associated with Rajasthan Royals, his old mate Mahela Jayawardene is the coach of Mumbai Indians. When asked if the rivalry has affected their relationship in any sort, Sangakkara said, “I don’t think he or I look at it that way. We don’t play against each other, the teams do, the players do, so it’s about what happens out in the middle, it’s not personal. It’s not about trying to get one over someone else. It’s about trying to do the best for your side and getting them ready to win. The side that plays better cricket on the day will win.”

The second leg of the IPL resumes today, September 19, with a mouth-watering clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at the Dubai International Stadium.