Holder plays down burnout fears: 'IPL will serve as great preparatory event'

Playing down burnout fears star allrounder and former West Indies captain Jason Holder backed the scheduling of the next season of the Indian Premier League IPL ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 saying the premier domestic event would provide an ideal platform for cricketers to showcase their skills in the games shortest format and make a strong case for selection for the showpiece tournamentSpeaking exclusively to ANI on Thursday Holder said it would be beneficial to get more game time and hit top form ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024Also ReadNew logo of ICC T20 World Cup revealed ahead of 2024 edition in West IndiesUSAThe T20 cricket you play leading upto a World Cup is always beneficial Definitely the IPL being played before the T20 World Cup would help It will help the players prepare mentally as well Holder told ANIAsked which franchise he would like to turn out for in the IPL next year the 32yearold said that he had a nice time with Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH and Chennai Super Kings CSK and he wouldnt mind playing for these two franchise in the next season of cashrich domestic T20 leagueHowever he was quick to add that it wasnt for him to decide which team he would represent in the IPL next yearI have had a good time with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings as well One of those two teams would be nice to go back to but it is not in my hands the West India who towers at over 6ft addedThe Caribbean represented the CSK in the 2013 season of the tournament However ahead of the 2015 season Holder was traded to Sunrisers HyderabadAgain ahead of the last edition of the IPL he was sold to Rajasthan Royals RR for Rs 575 crores Turning out for the Royals Holder scalped four wickets in 8 matchesOn the importance of franchise cricket in this day and age the Barbadian opined that its important for a player to understand and assess his work pressure and the grind of international cricket before venturing into franchisebased tournamentsI think it has its place I think it is important to understand the importance of international cricket I dont think if international cricket existed none of these leagues would be possible I think its important to understand your work on the international stage and then branch into franchise cricket the 32yearold saidOn his performance in the Abu Dhabi T20 League where he is representing the Samp Army Holder said it has been going pretty well adding that he was happy to smash a few sixes in the tournamentThe Caribbean said he hoped he could win the League for the Samp ArmyI have gone pretty well so far I bowled really well and could strike a few overhead boundaries as well So it has been good for me so far I am really happy with how things have been going here for me I hope we win the competition for the Samp Army the Caribbean saidOn West Indies preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup he said the series against England and Australia would be very important for the Caribbeans as it would be their last opportunity to gather as a group before the allimportant ICC tournamentHolder opined that franchise tournaments will also help the team get into its stride before the T20 World Cup 2024The 32yearold further added that he was excited for the 2024 T20 World CupWe have got a series coming up against England and then Australia as well I believe those two series would be very important for us Those are practically our last opportunities to gather as a group before the big World Cup In between we gonna have a few franchise tournaments I believe players will have the opportunity to still play I think it is an adequate amount of preparation before the World Cup I am really excited for the 2024 T20 World Cup Holder saidThe upcoming T20 World Cup will be hosted jointly by the West Indies and the US However the International Cricket Council ICC the games global governing body still hasnt come out with an itinerary for the tournamentHolder made his debut in the T20I format in 2014 against New Zealand and has since gone on to bag 57 wickets in 55 matches for the West Indies With the bat he has 407 runs in 55 T20I matchesHolder was also a member of the West Indies squad when the Caribbeans lifted the T20 World Cup trophy in 2016With inputs from agencies