Would love to play in IPL someday: Moeen Ali

Mumbai,9 March। Ahead of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament, England all-rounder Moeen Ali on Wednesday heaped praise on Indian Premier League (IPL), saying that being a part of the cash-rich competition would help him learn from Indian spinners.

“I would like to be a part of IPL someday. It is a big and glamorous tournament. I will get chance to learn from top spinners and bowlers there and get to share dressing room with them,” Ali said at a press conference here.

The 27-day tournament got underway in Nagpur on March 8 and will be played at eight venues across India with Eden Gardens in Kolkata scheduled to host the final on April 3.

India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia are clubbed in Group 2 while South Africa, England, the West Indies and Sri Lanka are in Group 1.

The left-handed batsman and right-arm off-spin bowler heaped praise on India star spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for bringing in variations in their bowling and being consistent throughout.

Spin duo Ashwin and Jadeja has been instrumental in the Indian team’s good run in the shortest format of the game recently. India come into the competition after back-to-back T20 series victory against Australia, Sri Lanka and have also clinched the Asia Cup T20 competition.

“Ashwin and Jadeja have been consistent in their performance. They have brought in variations in their bowling and are doing really well for the side,” the 28-year-old said.

England come into the tournament with some quality and skilled batsmen in Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes to name a few.

Speaking on the batting line-up, Ali said, “It is a big massive tournament for us. Root, Stokes, Buttler, Hales, Morgan make a strong batting line-up both in top and middle order. Hope we will deliver well in the games coming up.”

Agency