MyKhel Opinion: James Anderson wishes to play IPL, but England legend's wish shouldn't warrant him a place

As the IPL registration window closed, James Anderson registered his name for the auction, wishing to play in the IPL 2025.

The England fast bowler hung his boots from international cricket earlier this year. Anderson's illustrious cricket career shows a total of 704 Test wickets in 188 matches, and a total of 991 international wickets.

But when it comes to the T20 section, it provides a reality check. He has played a total of 19 T20Is in his career, picking up 18 wickets in the process. But the English bowler made his final T20I appearance in 2009, when he was just 27 years old.

When it comes to domestic T20 matches, Anderson's final appearance came way back in 2014 in the T20 blast for Lancashire. After a decade or so from playing his last T20, Anderson's wish for the T20 adventure seems to have awakened again.

"There is still definitely something in me that thinks like I can still play. I have never done the IPL; I have never experienced it and I think for a number of reasons I feel like I have more to give as a player," Anderson said after registering for the IPL.

"I have done a little bit of coaching since I have finished in the summer. I have been around the England team doing a bit of mentoring or whatever you like to call it.

"I just think opening my eyes to something like that and experiencing it, sort of might help me grow my knowledge of the game and help further down the line," Anderson added.

The England legend clearly says that he wants to gain experience in coaching and wants to know further about the game, but could he have not done the same by becoming a mentor or bowling coach?

Anderson has registered his name in the IPL with a base price of Rs 1.25 crore. At his peak, the pacer would have been high in demand and would have had many suitors, but now after retirement, the sudden wish to gain further knowledge on coaching as a player seems a missed trick from him.

IPL 2025 Auction: James Anderson doesn't warrant a chance in IPL

With the limited budget of the teams following the hefty retention policy, many may not want to throw in a bid for the veteran, who may not possess the craft of success in the format.

Anderson never wanted to be part of the IPL at his peak as he prioritized red-ball cricket for England. Now at the age of 42 years, if he blocks one foreigner's slot of any team, that would mean a young, aspiring overseas player denied his place, which is unfair, to say the least.

A team or two may still raise their peddle to acquire Anderson. The England pacer may get sold at around his base price, but that is unlikely to be a fruitful signing throughout the course of the season. He may pick up a couple of wickets in a match and bowl a decent spell, but it still doesn't warrant a place for him in any IPL roster.

The England pacer could have joined any of the franchises as a mentor or bowling coach to gain coaching knowledge. Anderson also wished to have a taste of IPL, but although the English legend may have a joyride with a fat paycheck, it might not be feasible for any franchise.

His vast experience and knowledge are undoubtedly an asset for any team, but is spending more than a crore and blocking an overseas slot worth it? A pragmatic mind doesn't say so.