IPL will put players in good frame of mind ahead of T20 WC: Bairstow

England opener Jonny Bairstow feels the upcoming IPL will put the players in a "good frame of mind" going into the T20 World Cup

Jonny Bairstow, England cricket team. Photo: @ICC
Jonny Bairstow, England cricket team. Photo: @ICC
Press Trust of India Pune
4 min read Last Updated : Mar 26 2021 | 11:58 AM IST

England opener Jonny Bairstow feels the upcoming IPL will put the players in a "good frame of mind" going into the T20 World Cup as they will play in conditions similar to the ICC event in India later this year.

CHECK IND vs ENG 2nd ODI live score and match updates here

CHECK IND vs ENG 2nd ODI LIVE TOSS AND LIVE STREAMING DETAILS HERE

Check IND vs ENG 2nd ODI playing 11 and head-to-head details here

Bairstow, who is currently involved in the three-match ODI series against India, will turn up for Sunrisers Hyderabad when the IPL gets underway on April 9.

"It will be a great opportunity to play at different grounds that we could potentially be playing in the T20 World Cup. Also to see how different teams will go about bowling in those conditions," Bairstow said during a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

Check IND vs ENG latest news updates here

"Because, naturally with the dimension of the grounds and also wickets, it varies how attacks go about defending totals and batsmen go about setting them, so it will be an interesting competition."

Sunrisers Hyderabad will open their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai on April 11.

"Obviously playing over here, it was a new ground, it was a lot of learning but the games that we have got in IPL will be in Chennai. However, the acclimatisation in India, whether it would be to the conditions or weather or in general will hopefully help," he said.

CHECK 2021 IPL latest news updates here

"But nothing can be taken for guaranteed, we know the quality of the competition, and quality of the opposition...

"... to be a part of the IPL, if you can come and do well in that hopefully then leading up to the World Cup, can only put in a good frame of mind because we have quite a few players playing in that."

Bairstow had scored a 66-ball 94 for a losing cause in the first ODI and he said England lost key moments in the match but overall there was nothing wrong in their game plan.

"To get ourselves in a situation and ahead of the game, we would have liked to get over the line ... Everyone has gone back last night hurted, it is not a good feeling to lose a game," he said.

Check ICC ODI Super League points table here

"Our game plan has been very good in the last four years. I don't think even yesterday we did a huge amount of wrong. There were key period where we didn't capitalise on, we lost the key moments in the game."

The 31-year-old termed the failures as "building blocks" as they prepare for the T20 World Cup.

"I think it is another building block towards that (T20 World Cup), we have spoken about building blocks ahead of 2019 World Cup, putting ourselves in different situations and come out better players and it will test us again...

"We are missing a few guys and it is an opportunity for people to play in different roles and also implement the skills that the players who are rested have within the team... You need to have the options."

Check 2021 IPL full schedule here

Talking about life in a bio-secure bubble, Bairstow said: "It is very difficult ... from January 2nd till now it has been just 10 days that I was home. In September when we went into the bubble at Manchester, up until Christmas, obviously there was a couple of weeks off till January.

"So it is tough being away and people are going to need rest. It is not easy just turning up and playing cricket.

"Living at a certain floor of the hotel, not able to leave the hotel ... being away from families is tough and the break that people are getting through the winter has been important for people's mental and physical health."

England's rotation policy saw Bairstow being rested for the first two Tests against India, something which was criticised by some former players.

"We all know the amount of cricket that is coming up, we are only 7 months away from World Cup and back of that is Ashes and then West Indies tour next winter, and that's without mentioning anything about English summer, so it is not easy thing scheduling when people will need slight break.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

Topics :Indian Premier LeagueICC T20 World Cup 2021Jonny Bairstow

First Published: Mar 24 2021 | 9:28 PM IST

Next Story