PANAJI
Forthe second consecutive year, there won’t be any cricketers from Goain the high-profile Indian Premier League (IPL) which begins on March28.
Whenthe IPL auction took place in Abu Dhabi in December last year, allthe three cricketers registered with Goa Cricket Association - SuyashPrabhudessai, Abhinav Tejrana and Lalit Yadav “ went unsold.
Cricket may not be that big as a sport inGoa as compared to football, but IPL do has its own fan following,especially among the younger generation.
However, the lack of Goan cricketers atthe IPL has disappointed cricket fans from Goa.
“We really miss Goan players in theIPL. It’s sad to see hardly any cricketers from Goa get selected toplay in this league,” says Mandar Kamat, a young IT professionaland a die-hard cricket fan, based in Panaji.
SuyashPrabhudesai was the last cricketer from Goa who played in the IPL.Suyash played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for threeconsecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024. In 2021, hewas picked by RCB, but did not get to play any IPL match. However,Suyash went unsold for the last two consecutive IPL seasons. i.e.2025 and 2026.
Goa’stop cricketers including Ranji captain Snehal Kauthankar and formerskipper Darshan Misal has never got an opportunity to play in theIPL. There is no doubt that the competition is intense. It is not soeasy to make it in any of the IPL team.
Longbefore Suyash had made his IPL debut, Swapnil Asnodkar was the firstGoan cricketer to play in the IPL. He played for Rajasthan Royals asan opening batsman during 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Asnodkarformed the highest opening partnership during that tournament in 2008along with South Africa’s Graeme Smith for Rajasthan Royals.Swapnil caught the nation's attention with his attacking knocks atthe top of the order at a time when Indian players were learning howto play T20 format. In fact, Asnodkar played a key role in his sideRajasthan Royals' win in the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008.
“Iliked the way Swapnil batted. He hit the ball so hard. It was adelight to watch him bat. There has been no cricketer like him fromGoa,” says Amit Naik from Ponda, who has been following IPL sinceits inception in 2008.
AfterSwapnil, Shadab Jakati was the next Goan cricketer to play in IPL.The slow left -arm orthodox spinner made his IPL debut for ChennaiSuper Kings (CSK) in 2009.
Infact, Jakati is the only player from Goa who has played for threefranchises - Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru andGujarat Lions in the IPL.
“Shadab’sspin bowling was magical. Opposition players used to be cautious whenplaying against him, “ says Kedar Arolkar from Margao, an IPL fan.
Infact, Shadab was a key figure in Chennai Super Kings' winningcampaign in 2010 and 2011 editions of IPL wherein he took 13 and 10wickets respectively. Later, Jakati was picked up by RoyalChallengers Bengaluru in 2014 and Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 2017.
Even though, every few Goan cricketershave played at the IPL over the seasons, the two months of IPL seescricket fever in Goa at an all-time high. Goan crowd can be seencheering for their favourite teams/players with tremendous passionand zeal.
