'We've seen the benefits to other fast bowlers' - Mark Wood set to take part in IPL 2022 mega auction

England pacer Mark Wood is considering taking part in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). One of the fastest bowlers going around, Wood has been a vital part of England’s white-ball team in the past. He even featured in the 2018 edition of the IPL where he served MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. However, he pulled out of last year’s mega auction in order to spend time with his young family.

Notably, players wanting to take part in IPL 2022 mega auctions need to submit their paperwork by the end of this week. While Wood is done with his paperwork, he’s not 100 percent certain to take part in the competition. The 32-year-old did admit that IPL can enhance his skills in white-ball cricket, considering the T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place later this year in Australia.

Ouster from T20 World Cup 2021 hurt us alot: Mark Wood

However, he also wants to give certain time to his family and kids. “We’ve seen the benefits to other fast bowlers. I was watching [Anrich] Nortje do well there. When we played the T20 competition [World Cup] he looked really good because he’s had that experience,” Wood was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

It must be noted that IPL has become a 10-team event with two franchises coming in the picture. Also, the mega auction will see teams entering the event with a massive purse. Hence, Wood is all but likely to bag a significant contract. Notably, Wood also admitted being hurt with England’s ouster in the semi-finals of the last year’s T20 World Cup.

Hence, he’s keen to improve as a T20 bowler. As he also wants some time with his family, Wood will confirm his participation in the ‘last minute.’

“There’s a World Cup at the end of the year I have my eyes on. It hurt a lot this winter when we got knocked out in the [T20 World Cup] semi-final [by New Zealand] and it feels as a one-day group that it’s time to push hard to leave a legacy behind,” said Wood.

“At the minute, I’ll be in it. But it’s important to have that time at home and reflect. It’s just whether the time away from home, the bubbles… I’ve done Australia without my son which has been quite hard, especially around Christmas, so I’ll have to see how the family situation is,” he added.