One of the biggest distinctions between the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide is the exclusive access the IPL has to Indian players. Active Indian cricketers, unless officially retired, are currently barred from participating in overseas T20 leagues, making the IPL the only franchise tournament where stars such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill feature.

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IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal has firmly ruled out any possibility of Indian players being allowed to compete in foreign leagues in the near future, citing workload management as the primary concern. Speaking to journalist Vimal Kumar, Dhumal highlighted the already packed cricketing calendar Indian players have to navigate.

“When you look at the workload our players carry, it becomes extremely difficult,” Dhumal said. “The BCCI has mandated that international players must also participate in domestic tournaments like the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.”

With an abundance of cricket being played within the country and a massive fan base consuming it, Dhumal believes there is little room for Indian players to commit to overseas leagues.

“At the moment, there is no chance for big players to go and play abroad,” he stated. “Some players are involved in all three formats of the game. Managing their workload becomes a huge challenge.”

Dhumal further warned that allowing Indian players to feature in foreign leagues could have serious repercussions for the national team. He pointed out that even elite performers require careful handling.

“Some fast bowlers have to be rested after just two Tests, or are managed across ODIs and T20Is. If we ask them to travel abroad and play leagues on top of that, it could negatively impact the Indian team,” he added.

A prime example of this cautious approach is Jasprit Bumrah. Despite being India’s pace spearhead, Bumrah’s appearances across formats have been carefully regulated, with the team management often resting him during crucial phases to ensure long-term fitness and peak performance.