Andrew Flintoff: “I don’t know if the IPL will make him a better captain or player, I think he’ll become a richer player”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff believes that the Indian Premier League (IPL) won’t help develop and enhance Joe Root’s Twenty20 skills.

The England Test captain has entered his name in the IPL auction, which will take place on January 27 and 28 in Bangalore, even though head coach Trevor Bayliss advised him not to.

Root said his decision to enter the auction stems from the fact that he doesn’t want to find himself “falling behind” in the shortest format, especially with the next World Twenty20 taking place in 2020.

However, Flintoff feels Root has only put his name forward in order to try and secure a massive payday, like England all-rounder Ben Stokes did when he was sold for INR 14.5 crore (approximately USD 2.16 million) to the Rising Pune Supergiants last year.

“Players who go to IPL will come up with a lot of reasons for why they want to go – it’ll enhance their game, they’ll play with all these players from around the world. But essentially we all know why they’re going,” Flintoff told Sport360. “You’re earning good money but don’t hide behind it. It’s a short career and players want to make money while they can. Joe didn’t go two or three years ago because he was concentrating on England. He’s done that now and now he fancies a crack at the IPL.

“I don’t know if the IPL will make him a better captain or player, I think he’ll become a richer player. He’s missed out in recent years because he’s been concentrating on England. The IPL, the Big Bash, all these tournaments, they’re rewards for playing well at international level and Joe’s done that.”