NEW DELHI (AFP): Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has asserted that the upcoming season of Indian Premier League (IPL) will be good practice for Indian players ahead of their highly anticipated series against Australia.
Indian and international cricketers — including several Australians — are currently in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the virus-delayed Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament which starts on September 19.
Indian players will fly directly to Australia after the IPL concludes on November 10 for the high-profile tour which is likely to begin with a T20 series followed by four Tests and ODIs.
Ian Chappell believes playing cricket in the COVID-19 era was a lot different from anything experienced in the past. “With venue bubbles, isolation rules, social distancing, and a number of changes to playing conditions, adapting to international competition have been testing for players,” Chappell added.
He further said, “It´s made life difficult and different even in a team environment but imagine the individual´s dilemma in enforced isolation with a tour looming.”
However, he said the upcoming IPL can provide some challenging practice to Indian and Australian players ahead of their highly anticipated duel later this year.
Chappell admitted that the IPL may not seem like ideal preparation for a tough Test series in Australia but he cited the example of former England batsman Ravi Bopara. Ravi Bopara said that he used the IPL matches to lift his game. He went on to score back-to-back centuries on the West Indies tour in 2009.
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