Warm-up for real show

Hindustan Times takes a look at the form metre of local cricketers ahead of next month's high-profile league. The ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament provides the perfect platform to gauge who is in fine nick and who is not.

The Indian Premier League teams splash big money for big names to make an impact. The star power drives the teams, but all the coaching staff will vouch for the value of local talent.

The most successful teams are the ones with a strong mix of domestic players. On numerous occasions, uncapped domestic players have been the key for their franchisees' success - Chennai Super Kings are a perfect example.

It is no surprise that a lot of effort is spent by the scouts scanning local tournaments. Extra focus has been on this year's Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament. Apart from being the national T20 championship, it serves as a feeder for the IPL. This season, the teams also have an option to sign-up players based on performances in the league to fill remaining slots.

An example of the extra interest was seen in the way most team managements made a presence at the matches - Mumbai Indians chief coach John Wright camped at Ahmedabad for the West Zone matches and signed up Gujarat rookie Jasprit Bumrah.

It has become the curtain raiser for the high-decibel IPL.