'We Are Rich': Virender Sehwag's Epic Take On Why Indian Players Don't Join Overseas T20 Leagues

Former Indian cricket legend Virender Sehwag has emphatically stated that overseas cricket leagues cannot match the lucrative salaries offered by the Indian Premier League (IPL), making it highly unlikely for Indian players to participate in foreign tournaments. In a recent appearance on the Club Prairie Podcast alongside Adam Gilchrist, Sehwag expressed his skepticism regarding Indian players venturing into overseas leagues. He recalled his personal experience when he received an offer to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) after retiring from the Indian team.

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Sehwag bluntly remarked, "No! Why? No need. We are rich people, we don't go to poor countries." He highlighted the vast difference in earnings, stating, "I replied I can spend that much money on my holidays." Sehwag emphasized his stance, saying, "If you talk about millions, yes then I'm interested otherwise no."

The one and only Virender Sehwag joins the Club Prairie Fire this week and he is on AMAZING FORM 🔥 sat along side Gilly!

Watch the full show 📺 here: https://t.co/2JYPfZJqEa#ClubPrairieFire@virendersehwag @MichaelVaughan @gilly381 @professorjroch @Ollie_Silverton

— Club Prairie Fire (@clubprairiefire) April 24, 2024

Comparing the salary structures of various leagues, Sehwag pointed out the significant gap between the IPL and other tournaments. While the highest amount offered in the recent BBL draft was AUD 420,000 (₹2.2 crore), the IPL's salary cap during the 2024 mini-auction soared to AUD 3 million (16.2 crore). 

He cited examples of top international players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc fetching ten times more in the IPL than in the BBL.

Sehwag, who has ventured into business ventures post-retirement, humorously recounted a conversation with Sky Sports about joining their panel.

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He asserted, "You can't afford me," but eventually quoted a staggering price of £10,000 a day, which the network couldn't match. Despite the high demand for Indian cricket expertise, Sehwag's comments reflect the financial disparity between domestic and international cricket platforms.

While several former Indian players, including Sourav Ganguly and Dinesh Karthik, have found roles in the Sky Sports panel, Sehwag's perspective underscores the prevailing trend of Indian cricketers prioritizing the IPL due to its unparalleled financial rewards and incentives.

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