New Zealand and RCB player Kyle Jamieson is considering the remainder of the IPL 2021 as preparation for the upcoming World T20. While the remaining fixtures of the IPL will be played in September-October in the UAE, the World T20 will begin a couple of days later on October 17 and will be co-hosted by UAE and Oman.
The pacer has said that playing in the IPL would help him get used to the conditions ahead of the World T20.
"It certainly gives us, [and] me a little bit of a head-start in terms of getting used to those conditions and those grounds," Jamieson said. "It's nice to have a block of T20 cricket going into the World Cup and, like I said, just a good chance to practice some T20 skillsets in the venues we're going to be playing on."
Jamieson was snapped by the Bangalore-based franchise for a sum of Rs 15 Cr earlier this year. In 7 matches that he has played so far for RCB, the New Zealand player has scalped 9 wickets at an average of 24.55.
IPL 2021 was earlier suspended on May 4 after there was a Covid-19 outbreak within the franchises and the cash-rich league was later moved to the UAE. This would be the second consecutive year when the IPL will be held in the UAE.
The Virat Kohli-led side had won five out of the seven matches that they had played and were sitting at the third spot in the points table when the tournament was halted. The tournament will now resume on September 19 in Dubai where Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings. The final of the tournament will be played on October 15 at the same venue.
The World T20 will commence on October 17 with Oman taking on PNG in the opening encounter while the Kiwis will begin their campaign against Pakistan on October 26 in Sharjah.