New Zealand player Richard Hadlee has recently said that world cricket requires India due to the big revenues they generated for the sport throughout the world as well. As per the media release on the International Cricket Council (ICC) official website, Hadlee has revealed that without that the presence of India in world cricket, it would have been different as well.

He said, “There is no doubt India produces a lot of revenue for cricket especially through television rights, sponsorships, advertising, attracting big crowds and through tournaments like IPL etc. Without India, the face of world cricket would be very different, therefore cricket needs India.”

While he was asked about Team India’s recent performance in Tests and its contribution and focus towards the game despite the cash-rich league like the Indian Premier League (IPL), Richard Hadlee said, “India has made an outstanding contribution to Test cricket, in fact, all formats of the game.”

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However, Hadlee also praised India’s stunning shows in Australia where they won the series there convincingly and then they registered wins against England at home as well.

“Their Test performances in Australia were outstanding even though they had that blip and were bowled out for 36. They bounced back superbly well, and Test cricket came alive again, it attracted a lot of interest and their performances in Australia was a remarkable achievement especially with so many youngsters having to come into the team and perform,” Richard Hadlee concluded.

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Notably, Team India will next play against New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final in Southampton on June 18. After that, India will take on England in a five-match Test series as well.