IPL 2023: Wasim Jaffer says players need to backup domestic performance with IPL show to get into Indian team

New Delhi, May 13: Punjab Kings batting coach and former India opener Wasim Jaffer has said Indian players need to back their domestic performance with a solid show in the IPL to get picked for the national team.

Many Indian players, including Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan, who have had solid domestic seasons, have failed to fire in this season's IPL. While Shaw has scored 47 in 6 innings, Sarfaraz has scored 53 in 4 innings so far in IPL 2023.

Jaffer hopes Shaw, who has done well in the past, bounces back, but admitted that this can happen in T20 format in which even bigger players haven't done well.

"Prithvi has done well, this is the only season where he hasn't met expectation but he has been a prolific scorer for Delhi along with Warner. But this can happen. In this format, we have seen far bigger players haven't done well. Hopefully, he will bounce back stronger," Jaffer said during the pre-match press conference.

The PBKS batting coach, however, said Sarfaraz's domestic performance has been incredible, but the Mumbai batter had failed to back that up with a good IPL to get into the Indian team.

"Sarfaraz also had three prolific domestic seasons. To score 1000 runs for almost three seasons is unthinkable but he hasn't backed that up with IPL performance," Jaffer added.

"Now if you want to come to the Indian side, he's got to back up the domestic performance with IPL. But unfortunately, he hasn't done that."

While Shaw has amassed 3,679 runs at an average of 51.09, with 12 hundred and 15 fifties in 42 first class matches, Sarfaraz has scored 3,505 runs at 79.65, with 13 hundred and nine fifties in 37 games.

However, the duo couldn't grab the opportunities that they got in this IPL. And Jaffer feels it is all about handling pressure of price tag and performance.

"I won't say there is massive gap in standard in bowling in domestic cricket and IPL but I would say it is about pressure of IPL. It is different," Jaffer said.

"When you play Syed Mushtaq Ali, you are representing your state, you are comparatively relaxed but in IPL when you are not performing in 2-3 games, there are players waiting and there is pressure of price tag and performance. It is about the ability to handle pressure."

The former India opener Jaffer also added that a franchise in IPL has done well when the Indian players perform well by giving Jitesh Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh.

"Any franchise which has done well in IPL, you will see the Indian players have done well. Jitesh Sharma has done well, Prabhsimran (Singh) has done well (for Punjab Kings), the India players have to step up and the foreign players also have to fire at the same time," Jaffer said.

Punjab Kings, with 10 points from 11 games, face Delhi Capitals in a must-win game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday (May 13).

(With PTI inputs)