Former England skipper praises IPL's contribution to team's T20 World Cup preparations

Following England's commanding 2-0 series win over Pakistan on Thursday, former England captain Nasser Hussain has joined the chorus of praise, highlighting the pivotal role of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in preparing players for high-pressure situations.

In a recent interview with a local sports platform, Hussain highlighted the impact of the IPL on England's current form and their prospects in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled to take place in the USA and West Indies from June 1.

“They're a very balanced side, they've played in a lot of big games. We don't talk enough about the IPL and how that obviously sets you up as a cricketer but also sets you up in big games. And under pressure and big crowds and that's what you need going into a World Cup. So they've done all that they could do,” Hussain said.

Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, the former captain emphasized the importance of adaptability and having a contingency plan.

“They've just got to be better than they were at that 50-over World Cup. They went into that with a lot of hope and it didn't start well and they didn't react well. So they need to have a Plan B. If we don't start well, if things don't go well, how do we react? How do we react to slower pitches? How do we react when better sides come up against us? But under Buttler and what they've got in this side they're in a real good place. They just got to go and do it,” he concluded.

Previously, Michael Vaughan also suggested that participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs could have been more beneficial for certain England cricketers compared to playing T20 matches against Pakistan.

He believed that the intense atmosphere of IPL playoffs, with high pressure, enthusiastic crowds, and elevated expectations, would have provided valuable preparation, especially for players like Will Jacks, Phil Salt, and Josh Butler.

"I think you’re going to miss the trick by sending all their players home. You know, I think Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Josh Butler, in particular, playing in the IPL in the eliminators, pressure, crowd, expectation. I would argue that playing here is better preparation than playing a T20 game against Pakistan," Vaughan had said.