for the tri series in Bangladesh, it included Yusuf Pathan and Pragyan Ojha.
Although the selectors mentioned that their strong domestic performance had resulted in their call up, everyone knew that their IPL performance had a lot to do with their promotion to the international side.
That was the first piece of evidence that proved that performances in the IPL would have an impact on international selections.
Shane Watson was the next beneficiary of the IPL as the Australian selectors announced him as Matthew Hayden's replacement for the ODIs in the West Indies.
Today, Manpreet Gony became the latest international recruit on the back of a strong IPL performance.
With Sreesanth missing the tri series in Bangladesh due to injury, the Indian selectors named the Chennai Super Kings' Gony as his replacement.
Gony had an outstanding IPL finishing among the top 5 wicket takers. He led the Super Kings' attack impressively and was one of the many domestic cricketers that shone during the IPL.
For Gony it has been a fast and dreamy rise. He made his first class debut in December, played his first List A match 3 months ago, and now finds himself among India's best 15 ODI players.
The question that then begs to be asked here is would Gony have been selected had the IPL not taken place? Was his performance in the Deodhar Trophy enough to warrant selection?
Its debateable, but I would say that Gony would not be in India's ODI squad had it not been for the IPL.
The same applies for Pathan, Ojha, and Watson.
So then, does a strong performance in the IPL guarantee international selection?
So far the trend suggests yes.
The Pakistani chief selector said that IPL performances will not be taken into account when they pick the Pakistan squad for the tri series in Bangladesh.
Well, majority of the Pakistani players flopped in the IPL. Thus had those performances been taken into account Misbah, Afridi, Malik et all would have been dropped.
So then, does a failure in the IPL lead to an axe from the national squad?
Probably not.
That's peculiar isn't it?
The cricketers are in a win-win situation here - while good performances in the IPL will be rewarded with international call ups, failures will not necessarily result in an axe.
Pragyan Ojha (centre) looks the happiest of the lot. Maybe he sees their fortunes changing this season.
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