It's hard to look past the IPL in terms of value, it's a very big league: Ravi Bopara [Exclusive Interview]

Ravi Bopara started his international career at the age of just 17 and went on to represent England in 13 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 38 T20Is. He also played 24 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. The seam-bowling all-rounder won England quite a few games during his time in international cricket, having last played an international game in May 2015. 

Bopara scored 575 Test runs and took a solitary wicket while in ODIs, he amassed 2,695 runs and bagged 40 wickets. The T20Is saw the Forest Gate-born scoring 711 runs and picking up 16 wickets. He might not have made an England comeback in over eight years but is still going strong in different franchise leagues in world cricket.

Currently, he is plying his trade in the second edition of the American Premier League (APL), where he is representing the Premium Indians. Seven teams are competing in the second edition of the American Premier League. All the games will be played at the Moosa Cricket Stadium in Texas. The league got underway on Tuesday, December 19. The summit clash will be played on Sunday, December 31.

During an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Bopara spoke about his future goals, his abrupt Sussex exit, the quality of the IPL and PSL, and much more.

Excerpts:

You have played all over the world, the IPL, CPL, PSL, the Hundred, and now you are in the APL. How has your APL experience been so far?

It's very early to say. It's important to ask me at the end of the tournament. That's going to be the most important thing to realise at the end. Because I think most tournaments, they always start well. It's what happens halfway through and forth. A lot of things have to be managed up until then. So far, result-wise it's good for us, we won the first game.

What is the most memorable league according to you?

Obviously the IPL. It's been a big one. PSL (Pakistan Super League) has been very big as well. They are two very memorable leagues. I would say these two. The BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) has played a big part in my life as well. I have probably played about seven seasons in the BPL as well.

What is the most valuable league in terms of talent?

It's hard to look past the Indian Premier League. Obviously, with the bunch of good cricketers there, coming through, they are always producing high-quality cricketers. I think even the T20 Blast, the Hundred in England are producing high-quality cricketers as well. We've seen how strong England are in white-ball cricket. They have been the best team in white-ball cricket for a long time. I know they didn't have a good World Cup but there was a period of five-six years where they were dominating. So, I think the English leagues are also very, very strong.

You started playing international cricket at the age of 17. How did you mentally and emotionally handle it at such a young age?

When you're that young, you don't realise what's happening. I think I played against Pakistan when I was 17. These are the people you watched when you were growing up. Shoaib Akhtar was bowling, Mohammad Sami, also at that time. So, it was just nice to go in and bat, and face those guys. You're just excited as a cricketer. But 10 years later comes responsibility as a cricketer. Something that you have to produce results, day in and day out. You can't afford to have bad runs. In a life. as a sportsman, you are always on the edge. You could be flying one day and then, within a year, no one wants you anymore. But it's been great.

Looking back at your career, do you think you have done all that you wanted or are there some regrets?

There is always stuff that you will regret, and things that you want to achieve. I think nobody will ever complete everthing that they want to achieve. There are a few milestones I would like to get to. Can't remember them now but in List A, I'd like to get to 10,000 runs. I think T20s also, I would also like to get to 10,000 (runs) and 300 wickets... Oh, no, 350. I have to keep playing.

What do you think went wrong for England in the ODI World Cup 2023? Were they under too much pressure after being considered as one of the pre-tournament favourites?

I don't think they picked the best team for those conditions. They didn't pick a left-arm spinner to play in India. I think that's a big mistake. You need a left-arm spinner there in those conditions. We just didn't have the bowling attack. I know there wasn't much runs scored but I don't think that bowling attack was the bowling attack to really fire in India. Also, I think there was a big lack of 50-over cricket, going into the World Cup. Some of those players weren't even playing any 50-over cricket. Going into the World Cup, they were rested and there was other team, second team playing in some of the series. So, that was the problem I think. Little things like that added up. But sometimes, you know, tournaments just don't go your way. Just because you have got the best team, it doesn't you're going to do well. It doesn't work like that.

Would you like to tell us what led to your Sussex exit?

I would say that was more down to Paul Farbrace. I felt like from the start of the year, he wasn't interested in keeping me there. He said to me if I have a good year, then he would sign me up, and give me a further contract, which I did. I had a very good year. I was there best performer by a long way, and he still didn't want to give me a contract. Well, I have seen it with Paul Farbrace before. I have seen the history in how he operates, so it didn't surprise me.