New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates welcomes BCCI’s decision of hosting a full-fledged Women’s IPL tournament.
Suzie Bate on Women’s IPL Tournament
In April this year, a BCCI source confirms that the much-awaited Women’s Indian Premier League will be hosted from next year(2023) and it is expected to feature six teams.
“Yes, firstly, it will be the most important competition for Indian women’s cricket, providing opportunities to the domestic players to play at that level. It is gonna create a lot of depth in the Indian women’s cricket environment.
Globally, just to have so many eyes on women’s cricket by having an IPL, is going to help the game grow,” said Bates in an exclusive interview with ANI.
“Many players across the world who have played international cricket would love to participate in a full IPL competition, I think a few players are waiting for this just because of the exposure that it might give to women’s cricket,” said Bates.
Suzie Bates on Devon Conway’s performances
In IPL 2022 mega auction, 4-time IPL trophy winner Chennai Super Kings roped NZ batter, Devon Conway, for his base price of INR 1 crore.
Though Conway missed the playing 11 chances at the beginning of the tournament, he then transformed into an undeniable player when he starts to open the inning with Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Conway on featuring in 6 matches scored 236 runs at a strike rate of 148.43 which includes 3 half-centuries. After CSK missed IPL 2022 playoff chances they starts to try out new combinations.
Talking about Devon Conway’s performances in the late stages of the IPL for Chennai Super Kings and how giving more chances could have changed the fortunes of the side struggling in the league, she said,
“Being from New Zealand, I think that all the New Zealanders in the squad should be playing. It is a really tough competition to get opportunities until you do not prove yourself at that level. But now that he (Conway) has done that, it will be hard for them (CSK) to leave him out of their starting XI.
He has proved himself in tests, ODIs, and T20s in India, I am sure he will get plenty of opportunities. It is great to see NZ players perform at that level and I know they love playing the competition as well.”
Suzie Bates Explains Why a lot of NZ players Picked in IPL
Bates said that the reason why so many players from New Zealand are getting picked up in IPL is because of their success as a national side.
“They have a great side at the moment in all three formats. When you perform at the pinnacle, players get noticed. The more New Zealand players play in this competition, the better Black Caps will be as a side because of the pressure of IPL and the fact that Black Caps do not play much T20 international cricket. It is nice for them to get to play at that level,” added the all-rounder.
Suzie Bates on Women’s T20 World Cup Preparation
On preparations for the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa next year, Bates said that while the national side is currently on a small break, they will start training from May 23rd again and have three camps before leaving for England to participate in a T20 tournament in the Commonwealth Games.
“Then we will have a series at home and our domestic Super Smash competition. We are gonna have a good diet of T20 cricket, which is good for us leading up to the world cup,” she added.
