'When players prioritize IPL over playing for the country, what can we say' : Kapil Dev on India's early exit from 20-20 WC

Billed as favourites to win the 20-20 World Cup, India came in with a huge amount of expectations under their belt. It was also their best chance to end the trophy drought as the players were used to the conditions. The stakes were also high as it was India skipper Virat Kohli’s last tournament as T20I captain. In the end, there was only disappointment in store as India lost two matches to Pakistan and New Zealand and bowed out of the tournament from the league stage itself.

A lot of experts and critics felt it was due to a few tactical errors, a few of them blamed IPL, while others felt it was due to bio-bubble fatigue. The second leg of the IPL concluded on October 15, two days before the start of the 20-20 World Cup. Naturally, the players were a bit tired. Former India captain Kapil Dev was not happy with IPL being staged right before the 20-20 World Cup and felt it didn't allow the players to prepare for the showpiece event in the best possible way.

“When players prioritize IPL over playing for the country, what can we say. Players should take pride in playing for their nation. I don’t know their financial conditions so can’t say much. But I feel that first in line should be the country’s team and then franchises,” said the World Cup-winning skipper on ABP News.

Adding further, he said the BCCI need to plan their cricket better. “I’m not saying do not play cricket there (for the franchise), but the responsibility is now on the BCCI to plan its cricket better. To not repeat mistakes we committed in this tournament is the biggest learning for us,” he added.

The Men in Blue will next be seen in action against New Zealand in three-match T20I series starting on November 17.