With IPL 2023 returning to home-and-away format, multiple franchises are looking at cutting down on logistics cost and net bowlers are the first casualty. Unlike the previous few editions, where the tournament was held in a controlled bubble environment, teams used to have a battery of bowlers for quality net sessions and have replacements ready in case of an ill-timed injury.
This time, however, teams will be using the services of net bowlers but they won’t travel with the contingent for the away matches. A lot of young bowlers, who trained and lived with the team in preceding editions, will not get the opportunity this time around.
Apart from the experience, there are lot of financial implications for the aspiring cricketers as they will not be remunerated like they were. On an average, a net bowler used to make in excess of Rs 5 lakh (including DA) for a single edition and everything else like flight tickets, hotel arrangements and food was covered by the franchise.
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J&K’s Vivrant Sharma, who was signed by SRH for Rs 2.6 crore in the IPL 2023 mini-auction, was with the team in the preceding edition for his leg-spin. The all-rounder, who bats in the top-order, not only returned a better cricketer but also impressed the team management.
In the last three editions, teams used to travel with as many as 10 net bowlers and had more throw down specialists in the ranks too. The idea then was to not burn out squad players and ensure a quality hit for the batters.
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