The domestic circuit has long served as a venue for cricket players to display their abilities. Some athletes still struggle to make the national team, even if others go on to have legendary careers. Examples of players who have struggled to earn a place in the squad despite their recent strong performances in domestic cricket are Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair.
Mandeep Singh, a domestic sensation who made his debut in 2016 but has only played three Twenty20 Internationals for India, is another player who has not been able to get a spot in the national squad. The 33-year-old hitter continues to put on some amazing performances in domestic cricket even if selectors are no longer interested in him.
The Punjab-born cricket player, who is playing regularly for Tripura, recently opened up on why some players are retiring early, naming the IPL as one of the causes. Some players have given up on their dreams of playing for India and quitting.
“I suppose the IPL plays a significant role. Your cricket career is all but gone if you don’t have an IPL deal. For tournaments lasting 15 to 20 days, there are leagues for retired players where you can make a respectable living. You might easily earn Rs 1 crore in a year if you have played for India.
Mandeep Singh told The Indian Express, “Perhaps it is one of the causes, or perhaps the fire is no longer in them.”
Regarding Mandeep Singh’s IPL career, he has represented four teams: the Delhi Capitals (DC), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Punjab Kings (PBKS). He last participated in an IPL game in 2023, playing for KKR against DC.
He has been playing well in domestic cricket lately. In the six Vijay Hazare Trophy games he has played for Tripura, he has amassed 325 runs at an average of 54.16 and 407 runs at an average of 101.75 in the Ranji Trophy.