At 38, Ashish Kapoor still plays cricket actively for a local league in Chennai. After playing domestic cricket and representing the Indian team in the 1996 World Cup and a handful of Test matches, the veteran off-spinner is now an integral part of the think tank of the Delhi Daredevils management.
Kanwaljit Singh, now 41, is one of the most experienced domestic cricketers the country has seen, but never got the chance to don the national team colours.
He was the coach of the Hyderabad Ranji team, but now finds himself in the cushy position of assistant coach of the Deccan Chargers. It's not the young cricketers (and marketers!) for whom IPL has come in as a whiff of fresh air, but for the veterans as well.
While supposedly better-known names like those of Krishnamachari Srikkanth, brand ambassador for the Chennai Super Kings, or the legendary leg spinner B Chandrashekhar, the head coach, were almost certain to get roles in the IPL, it is people like Kapoor and Singh who look to benefit the most from the latest show in town.
Kapoor, who plied his trade for as many as five domestic teams, plays active cricket in Chennai. He feels that it's good that veteran cricketers are leveraging their experience in IPL.
"There are enough experienced cricketers who would be more than willing to lend a helping hand to teams, if called upon."
Singh is a prime example of that. Having played for over a decade and half for Hyderabad and then having coached the state side as well, he has more than adequate knowledge of coaching, as well as scouting abilities.
Most of the teams have opted for foreign or more well-known names as coaches, like Martin Crowe for Bangalore, John Buchanan for Kolkata and Kepler Wessels for Chennai.
With IPL making it mandatory for teams to field players from their local catchment area, however, the need for people like Kapoor and Singh is going to make a lot of difference.
"We have a lot of knowledge about local talent and it helps the teams in a big way to have the best youngsters," says Singh.
Singh has been in active coaching ever since he quit playing the game almost five years ago. He enjoys working with youngsters and says that the IPL is just an interesting extension to what he was doing. "Of course, working with foreign players as well helps you in your coaching experience," he adds. And the money is also good.
Though the BCCI has a decent pay structure for domestic as well as veteran cricketers, the IPL is a different ball game altogether. Kapoor, however, says that it's not about money for him, but he says that "it could provide a new lease of life to veterans".
But with all the glamour attached to the event, will the franchisees go for unknown names? "If they want the best for their teams they should look at former cricketers," says Singh.
There are cases in which cricketers of the older brigade, who still play in the Ranji Trophy tournament, have been overlooked by the IPL teams
