Playing in the IPL will make you a better cricketer: Nasser Hussain

The IPL auction just around the corners. Cricket fans from all across the globe are waiting for this Saturday. The auctions will take place on this weekend, i.e, the 27th and 28th of January. All the franchises by now must be ready with their strategies for the mega-auction should they make a play for the best players.

In this auction, 578 players will go under the hammer. There are some big names that are up for grabs. Indian veterans like Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir will go under the hammer. Also, big foreign players like Ben Stokes, Chris Gayle and Joe Root like fancy their luck at the upcoming auction.

Nasser Hussain gives his opinion about Root and Stokes

Ahead of the auctions, Former England skipper Nasser Hussain gave his opinion about the top picks. He also spoke about the English test skipper Joe Root and gave his opinion about Root’s IPL participation. Moreover, he highlighted the impact Ben Stokes could have in the upcoming auction.

Hussain was questioned if playing IPL will develop Root’s game. Earlier, Root decided to skip his international duties to play in the IPL. Putting forward his opinion, Nasser said that all the other three players of the ‘Fab Four’ play the IPL. He said that the IPL gives an opportunity to cope pressure and improve hitting skills. Nasser added that it is something that the English team hasn’t yet got a good hold of.

Is it useful or a gamble for Root to play IPL?

“Look at the other members of the ‘Fab Four‘ – Kohli, Williamson and Smith. They’re all captains of their country and the go off and play IPL. Playing in the IPL will improve you as a cricketer, it will improve your hitting potential and coping in big-pressure games,” he said about the IPL talking to Sky Sports. “The one thing England haven’t totally got to grips with is winning big knock-out matches; the more English players we have playing in IPL and getting to the knockout stages, with the pressure of millions watching, should only make them better cricketers. So go for it, enjoy it,” he added.

Is Ben Stokes a better player now?

Also, Nasser was asked if Ben Stokes is an improved player now. He answered in the affirmative and said that working with a specialist T20 bowling coach helped. Moreover, he said that this has also helped his batting. Furthermore, Nasser said that Ben was working hard to play with soft hands and manoeuvre the ball into the gaps.

“Working with a specialist T20 bowling coach helped him a lot – his variations and yorkers have got better as a result. But his batting also came on; before he went to the IPL he had a tendency to go a little bit early. The tournament taught him that if it means giving the first 10 balls of his innings to the opposition to get used to the pace, then so be it,” the former skipper concluded.