Everyone’s looking forward to IPL 2020, no? It’s not only because this is the first time the Indian Premier League was almost cancelled but it’s also because this season will be different for multiple reasons. Bio-bubble for players, many experienced names dropping out due to safety concerns, no crowds, no saliva on the ball and much more.
To add to that, it’s a new venue altogether. In fact, the India Premier League isn’t even happening in India. Former English cricketer and Betway brand ambassador Kevin Pietersen recently spoke to Betway about his expectations going into IPL 2020, where he will be present not as a player anymore but now as a commentator!
“I’m heading out to the UAE to cover the IPL and it’s fair to say that I’m not expecting a standard IPL experience,” he said. He mentioned that while the atmosphere is going to be different without crowds turning it on like they do in India, safety is the need of the hour. Players are entertainment packages in the IPL and they have to find a way to entertain the millions watching on television! Keep reading for what KP had to say about multiple topics on the upcoming season…
Coping with the bubble
“Other than the players who have featured in England over the last few months, the bubble experience is going to be new for everybody. I have some experience of it and it’s a very difficult thing to do. Travelling from the hotel to the cricket ground and back to the hotel, on loop, is going to get frustrating, and these guys are going to be doing it for quite a while.”
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England was the first country to resume international cricket so like he mentioned, English players will be slightly used to the bubble. However, it could be quite frustrating for the others, as IPL 2020 is a 2-month long season, scheduled between 19 Sep – 10 Nov 2020. Considering we’re in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi which have good night life, it’s going to be a struggle for all!
Young Indian talent
“I think he’s definitely somebody that we will be watching on our television screens for a long time. He’s got all the shots. He can play classical cricket, but he has the ability to turn it on and hit sixes at will. He’s young, entertaining and I think he’s got a bright future.”
KP has always been vocal about upcoming Indian talent and ahead of IPL 2020, he thinks Shubman Gill in particular is someone who we should be watching out for. He believes Gill should’ve made the 2019 World Cup squad for India last year and he’s someone who will give Kolkata Knight Riders a fighting chance to win the title in IPL 2020.
MS Dhoni’s future?
This is something everyone has also debated about and MS Dhoni silenced everyone when he randomly announced his retirement from international cricket last month. Now, Betway asked KP how he thinks MSD will fare at IPL 2020, especially considering he hasn’t played professional cricket in over a year!
“But, after this long break from cricket, and everything that’s been associated with it, it’s difficult to know how he will be feeling. It might have refreshed him and set him up positively, or it might have had a negative influence on his game. Whatever his thoughts are about the future, I know they won’t affect his captaincy. He’s a pretty cool guy, very unassuming and he enjoys going under the radar.”
Rooting for Delhi Capitals!
“The Delhi Capitals are a favourite of mine. I had my best IPL years at Delhi. I love the ownership structure, and I am still very close to them now. I also had some of my best innings with Delhi and enjoyed a great rapport with the fans of the franchise. I’d really love them to turn a corner and for everybody to fire this year.”
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KP has always showered plenty of love on this IPL franchise where he spent most of his time at the IPL. He thinks they’ve got a great chance in IPL 2020 since Ricky Ponting is the coach and they’ve got a good seam attack led by the South African duo of Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada.
Will it be RCB’s year?
This is a question cricket fans ask themselves each year! However, KP decided to answer this question this time, talking about a team for which he made his IPL debut. He thinks there was nothing ever wrong with the franchise and with Mike Hesson coming in to work with Simon Katich on the coaching staff, this could be the year for them!
“As ever, Royal Challengers Bangalore are one of the biggest IPL talking points. They are always the team to watch, mainly because of that partnership between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, which we all expect so much from. It’s baffling that they underperform so often and that they have never won the tournament.”
This interview was conducted by Online Cricket Betting company Betway. And for similar updates on the top cricketing stories from around the world, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com.
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