Mahendra Singh Dhoni Says Indian Premier League Not a Yardstick to Select Players For Tests, ODIs

India's limited overs captain captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that Indian Premier League cannot be the yardstick to pick players for the hard grind of international cricket, particularly Tests and the 50-over format. (India to Take on Depleted Sri Lanka in Twenty20 Series Opener)

Dhoni felt the lucrative Indian Premier League can be, at best, termed a good place to spot emerging talent.

"I have always said IPL is a platform where you found out the talent. After that you follow them in domestic circuit and see how well they are performing. In IPL you can get away with a lot of things. But to select proper Test or 50-over cricketers on IPL performance, I don't think would be right," said Dhoni at a media conference ahead of India's opening Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka.

Dhoni will be leading the newly formed IPL franchise team Rising Pune Supergiants in the cash-rich league's ninth edition in April-May.

"The wicket here is a bit more settled now. It's not a very big ground, it's a decent-sized ground and the straight boundaries are not very long. Though it's a bit away from the city, the crowds come in big numbers and are also very supportive."

Dhoni, who is an honorary lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army, said he also liked to visit the city which is the headquarters of Indian Army's Southern Command and also has an Indian Air Force base station.

"And when you come here you also have the opportunity to see fighter planes. There is more to do here than playing cricket. These are good attractions. The crowd also supports you well," he said.