Bengaluru, May 13: Former England captain Nasser Hussain lauded IPL for its role in making present day cricketers more complete players than ever before, and also giving them money that can change their lives forever. However, IPL 2020 has been postponed indefinitely due to Coronavirus.
Speaking to Harsha Bhogle in Cricbuzz in Conversation, Hussain said the IPL helps players to handle pressure better.
"Obviously money is important. Some of these figures are life-changing figures. West Indies love the IPL because it gives them sums of money that they can never dream of," said Hussain.
"But you cannot argue that when you go and play in the IPL, you're playing against the best players. You look at all those team sheets, they are like a World XI. Because they are playing in that big crowd, it helps you handle pressure.
"IPL isn't a learning school, it's a finishing school. It finishes you off as a cricketer, those bits that are missing, like playing spin on drier pitches, it helps you learn that and finishes you off as a cricketer," added Hussain.
Hussain cited the example of England's Ben Stokes, who has grown into one of the world's finest all-rounders.
"The two innings that Ben Stokes played in the 2019 summer, at Headingley and in the World Cup final... In Headingley he went into IPL mode when batting with Jack Leach. Some of the shots he played, like the reverse switch hit into the Western Terrace off Lyon, he can't play that unless he's played in the IPL. The World Cup final innings. He can't handle that pressure unless you've been in the pressurized cauldron before," he said.
Hussain also said IPL nourishes friendship among players apart from the development angle.
"You
learn
from
these
people
around
the
dressing
room.
You
go
to
the
IPL
and
you
have
some
great
players
and
some
great
coaches
like
Moody
and
Fleming
and
Ponting,
Also
there
are
stories
like
Bairstow
and
Warner.
Warner
absolutely
went
at
Bairstow
at
the
Ashes
before
they
joined
at
Hyderabad
and
they
became
friends
and
their
partnership
at
the
top
of
the
order
was
unbelievable.
IPL
does
bring
people
together.
So,
when
they
are
next
playing,
Ben
Stokes
will
realize
that
Steve
Smith
(Rajasthan
Royals
teammate)
is
a
pretty
decent
guy," he
added.