Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden says overseas players increasingly prioritise the Indian Premier League (IPL ) over international cricket because of its scale, structure and financial value, speaking on the All Over Bar The Cricket podcast. He made the comments while analysing how global players approach modern scheduling.
Hayden said players from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand now treat the IPL as the most significant competition in the game. He linked this view to the league’s commercial strength and its position in the global calendar.
“Foreign players, especially South Africa, Australia and New Zealand players, see this competition as something like it is bigger than international cricket,” Hayden said. He highlighted a shift in perception among top-tier cricketers rather than isolated individual decisions.
He explained that the IPL environment drives this mindset through visibility and intensity. The league’s broadcast reach and daily match schedule create constant exposure that reduces the relative weight of bilateral series.
“Look at the hype that gets created here. Whether you are in broadcasting or a general viewer, everything seems to get taken over by it. Every day there is cricket, sometimes two matches a day,” he said. He pointed to the volume of cricket and commercial focus as key factors behind the league’s influence.
Hayden played in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings and topped the run charts in 2009 with 572 runs in 12 matches. His experience in the competition underpinned his assessment of its structure and global reach.
