IPL has helped in growth of New Zealand cricket: Gavin Larsen

Gavin Larsen, the national selector of the New Zealand cricket team, has said that the Kiwis’ cricketers have benefitted immensely from playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He stated that NZC makes sure that their players are available to play if picked up by the franchises. In 2019, every other player picked in the auction went on to play in the cash-rich T20 league.

The likes of Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Colin de Grandhomme and a number of other cricketers have honed their skills. Larsen said that the improvement in their game is palpable. Recently, New Zealand beat India by a margin of 3-0 in the ODI series. Also in 2018, Kane Williamson was the leading run-scorer and took his side to the final against the Chennai Super Kings.

“It’s very clear. Its highlighted in our Master Agreement (MA) that IPL window must be available for our players if they do get picked up by a franchise,” Larsen was quoted as saying in The Week.

They are working on their games, says Larsen

“When our players are picked up by IPL franchise, they can only develop their game. We are seeing some of the results that have come in terms of Players’ improvement which has been a fantastic part of cricket growth,” he stated.

Larsen is currently focussed on the performances of their players before the 2020 and 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. The former cricketer has the job of monitoring how their players are performing in the prestigious T20 tournament in India.

“Definitely, part of the role to continually monitor the group of players, both guys who are incumbent Black Caps and those who are in the ranks, to make sure they are managed appropriately, they are working on their games. IPL is a part of that,” he added.

New Zealand were recently whitewashed 5-0 by India. However, the team came back all guns blazing and put their best foot forward in the ODIs. The Kiwis are next scheduled to play the two-match Test series, which gets underway on February 21 with the opening Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.