Aaron Finch is one of the most celebrated names in Australian T20 cricket history. From leading Australia to their first and only ICC T20 World Cup title in 2021 to being one of the most consistent batters in the shortest format, Finch’s legacy is rich and inspiring.
With 3,120 runs in 103 T20 Internationals at a strike rate of 142.53 — including a record-breaking 172 against Zimbabwe — Finch’s contributions in the Australian jersey speak volumes. However, in a candid conversation with ESPNCricinfo’s The Cricket Monthly, Finch shared a surprising perspective: captaining an IPL team, he says, was much harder than leading the Australian national side.
IPL Captaincy: A Tougher Task Than Leading Australia
Finch explained that the biggest challenge with IPL captaincy is the lack of time to build team chemistry. Speaking about his stint with the now-defunct Pune Warriors India, Finch said,
“IPL [captaincy] was probably the hardest, because you’re coming together for a short period of time. At Pune Warriors, I came in as a replacement player and then two or three games later, I was captain. I just didn’t have the time to get to know everybody in the squad, which is really difficult.”
In contrast, leading the Australian national team was a more structured and familiar experience for him.
“Captaining Australia, you’ve got some of the best players in the world all the time, so my job was pretty easy there. Everyone knows what they’re trying to do.”
Finch also admitted that he struggled to perform in the IPL compared to his time with the Melbourne Renegades or the national side. “At times, the pressure of trying too much and trying to force it a little bit too much was there,” he added.
Most IPL Teams Played For: Finch’s Unique Record
Aaron Finch holds the record for playing for the most IPL franchises — a staggering nine teams. His journey began with the Rajasthan Royals, and he shared an interesting story from his debut season.
“I made my IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals. I played one match under Warnie (Shane Warne) as a replacement player, the last game of the year. It’s funny how your career can take different turns,” Finch recalled.
After that season, Finch had signed a three-year deal with Rajasthan as an uncapped player — a completely legal move at the time. But things quickly changed.
“We went to the Champions League, and I had already got my three-year deal with Rajasthan locked away. Everyone else was playing for an IPL deal, really, but it didn’t bother me how I went, and I performed well. And then, just before the auction, they decided that everybody was in the auction. Now teams couldn’t sign uncapped players (on longer contracts).”
This change in rules meant Finch, despite performing well, had to enter the IPL auction pool and his journey across franchises began.
Finch Wants the Champions League T20 to Return
Finch also spoke about the now-defunct Champions League T20 (CLT20), a tournament that once brought together the top franchise teams from around the world. He expressed a desire to see it return, even if it’s unlikely due to the modern cricket calendar.
“Absolutely, I’d love to see it [Champions League T20] back. That gave a lot of people a start in international cricket and the franchise circuit. Maybe the schedule these days is too packed for it to come back. To try and find a window to play a global tournament like that is maybe unrealistic, but I loved it.”
While Aaron Finch may have retired from international cricket, his insights into the pressures of modern T20 leagues, especially the IPL, offer a rare behind-the-scenes look into the challenges players face off the field.
