I’m not going to show the Indian guys all the tricks in IPL 2020: Tom Curran

When he played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) the last time, England bowling all-rounder Tom Curran was not that successful. In the 2018 season, he appeared in only five games for Kolkata Knight Riders to take five wickets and score 18 runs. This year, the 24-year-old South African-born cricketer is set to appear again in the T20 tournament and he will represent former champions Rajasthan Royals (RR), who bought him for Rs 1 crore in the auction last December.

Curran, who will share the dressing room with England teammates likes Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes in the IPL starting in another month, has however decided not to expose all the tricks in his armoury during the IPL keeping in mind the T20 World Cup that will be played in Australia later this year. Curran did his reputation as a go-to bowler in the limited-overs a world of good after delivering a couple of match-changing spells in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa that England won 2-1.

“If I’m bowling in the nets to some of the Indian guys, I’m not going to be showing them all the tricks,” Curran, who hails from a cricketing family with his father and brother also having played international cricket, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Tom Curran looking forward to playing with Buttler, Stokes

“But that’s a huge benefit of having Jos, Stokesy and these guys. I think you actually learn a lot too. Speaking to Jos I’ll learn about batting. You just need to have some of the players on the international stage to talk to, and try things with,” Curran said while predicting his upcoming experience with the RR that also has the likes of star Australian player Steve Smith.

Curran, who has 50 international wickets from two Tests, 20 ODIs and 18 T20Is, said his focus during the IPL will be on self-improvement. “I don’t think you chat weaknesses with loads of people anyway. There are a few people who you might trust, and you might ask, ‘what does Steve Smith do in this situation?’ but it’s more about developing and getting better, which we players focus more on,” he said.

The England cricketer said he is also looking forward to working with Australian coach Andrew McDonald who will be at the helm at the Royals.