IPL a huge opportunity for young players: Vettori

Wellington, Mar 12 (UNI) New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor and pace bowler Kyle Mills will play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after they were picked up by Mohali and Bangalore team in the second round of auction.

The northern Mohali team paid US 150,000 dollar for Kyle Mills while the southern Bangalore team grabbed Ross Taylor for US 100,000 dollar.

Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori and players like Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum has already signed up. The competition is likely to conflict with New Zealand's preparations for their tour to England in May.

Discussions with the representatives of the New Zealand players to allow dispensation for the five affected men to arrive on time for the final warm-up fixture against England Lions, which starts on May 8, a week before the Lord's Test, are on.

''It's a New Zealand Cricket decision and we have to abide by that, no matter which way it goes,'' Vettori said.

''They have asked us our views, and they have asked the team's views. Obviously, with five of us involved, it'll set a different precedent than it would have with three, but we will work through it with Justin (Vaughan, the CEO) and whatever decision he comes up with, we will abide by it,'' skipper added.

Vettori, who was signed up by the Delhi Daredevils franchise for a hefty US 625,000 dollar, said New Zealand very rarely plays warm-up matches on Test tours these days, and so it will make little difference in their preparations to play against England. What is more, if the senior players do sit out the early fixtures, it will provide an opportunity for younger players to be given invaluable experience of English conditions, he added.

''I know it'll be a huge opportunity for some young guys to be assimilated into a New Zealand side. Like I've said a couple of times, we go away on most tours and don't have any warm-up games. I don't think we can say that we all need to turn up on the same day because that's the way it is supposed to be, because we don't do it on any other tour,'' said Vettori UNI XC CS BDP HS1328