The Indian Premier League was one of its kind when it came into existence in 2008. Not many predicted that this tournament would become the biggest cricket competition at one point. But the IPL has taken over this sport and put it among the most followed sports across the globe.
This tournament has helped countless players establish themselves on the international stage. It will not be a wrong statement to say that the IPL has given many big names to Indian and international cricket. That is the reason why every player wants to be part of this competition once for sure.
Since the IPL became a household cricket tournament, other cricket-playing nations have also introduced their own T20 leagues. That speaks volumes about the effect of the Indian Premier League on world cricket. Many believe that the IPL is no less than international cricket.
That’s what veteran South African all-rounder Wayne Parnell feels about the IPL. Parnell reckons that the IPL is as close as international cricket when it comes to competitive cricket. He played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2023.
In an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Parnell said, “It is as close to international cricket as one can get—more than any other league. It’s so tough and so fierce, and the level of competition is very high.”
He highlighted that when he first played in the IPL in 2014, there were 200-plus scorers once after 6-7 games, but now teams are scoring 200-plus totals consistently, which shows the bar has gone up.
Parnell played seven matches for RCB in 2023 and took nine wickets at an average of 26.22. The all-rounder will be seen in action in the first T20I match between South Africa and Australia. This game will take place at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.
