It is 14 years since the first T-20 International was played, and 11 years since IPL started. This format has created lot of spectator/audience interest and brought back crowds to the stadium. The purist, like me, continues to frown on T-20, but it is undeniable that T-20 has revived interest in Cricket, which was facing an existential crisis at the beginning of the century. Let us see the pros and cons.
With the advent of T-20, fielding standards and fitness of players have shown an astounding increase. We marveled once at the frozen frame of Jonty Rhodes air borne to run out a batsmen in ODI and his fielding used to be the benchmark for a long time. But today, there are many who are equal to or even better than Jonty. Some of the catches taken at the boundary ropes are breath taking. Palming the ball up inside the boundary, then stepping out, and coming back to finish the catch is passe. The ground fielding and catching in the deep is excellent. There are very few slouches on the field, and Captains dont have to worry about hiding poor fielders in the ground, as there is no place for poor fielders in a T-20 team. There are a few exceptions like Chris Gayle, but then he is a class act with the bat. Fielding inside the ring is sharper, and pick up & throwing is generally top class.
The downside to T-20 is the negative impact it has on Close in Catching. Slip fielders are non existent, and we have not seen a Forward Short Leg in a T-20 match for a long time. The quality of Slip catching has taken a nose dive, and this can be seen from the amount of catches being dropped in the Slip cordon in Test matches.
T-20 has created an awareness among youngsters on the need to be a super fit athlete. Poor Pujara. Despite all his batting skills and exploits, he doesnt find a place in any IPL team. It is not that he is not fit as a batsman, but he is nowhere near the fitness level required for a good fielder. Remember how Kohli benched Sarfraz at RCB for not working hard on his fitness. To his credit, Virat Kohli leads by example, and has created a revolution in the area of team and individual fitness.
For me, this stress on fitness is the greatest contribution of T-20. When I used to attend Coaching Camps in early1980s, our exercise regime included 2 laps around the ground, a few stretching exercises. These days, every aspiring cricketer spends a few hours a day in the gym. He has to, or else he will be left behind. The women cricketers are fantastically athletic too - Veda Krishnamurthy is a classic example.
T-20 is creating a generation of super fit youngsters, and that is great for the society
