Stoinis eyes T20 WC spot
LUCKNOW: Australia’s Marcus Stoinis has been the most sought-after performer in the Indian Premier League and his consistent showing in the shortest format of the game in almost all franchise leagues across the world has made him one of the most valuable players.
After beginning his career in IPL in 2015 for Delhi Capitals where he didn’t get a game that season, Stonis joined the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2016 and could score just 17 runs and took two wickets in five matches.
After two middling campaigns, Stoinis was traded to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but failed to nail down a spot. Delhi Capitals signed him back in 2020, and in his first season back, he scored 352 runs as they reached the final. However, after joining the Lucknow Super Giants in 2022, Stoinis helped the side make the playoffs in both the first two seasons and his best, so far, came only last season when he scored 408 runs and took five wickets.
In the new IPL season, Stoinis, a powerful, versatile batter and medium-pace bowler, hasn’t achieved what he was expected to, but even with just 122 runs at a strike rate of 137.08 in six matches, the experienced all-rounder has fixed his eyes on the upcoming T20 World Cup this June in the West Indies and the USA.
“For me, this IPL is like the T20 World Cup, and I am trying to make full use of the opportunity with both willow and ball to get selected in the Australian team for the June event,” Stoinis
said on Wednesday.
“Every game is important to me as performance is everything and the Australian team is going to be announced soon for the T20 WC. There are turning tracks in West Indies and batting on those wickets would be quite interesting, unlike in India where almost all the tracks are flat in this IPL.”
Stoinis, who missed the T20 series against West Indies on home turf this January due to injury, remained one of the key players for Australia, who won the 2021 T20 World Cup, adding a valuable 81 with Matthew Wade in the semi-final against Pakistan after Australia were in strife at 96/5 chasing 177.
“I love playing under pressure as I believe that it helps me bring best out of me.”
He, however, said it’s always a pressure game while playing in franchise league.
“It’s a different pressure game while playing in franchise league as sponsorship, support, personal future and so many
other factors come in between. But, yes, for sure, playing for the country’s team in an international event brings a different kind of pressure for a player,” he said.
“That’s why almost all the international players feel happy to be part of the IPL as the tournament teaches a lot to a player. It is so close to international cricket and helps you raise your personal game too,” he added.
Lucknow Super Giants, which have six points from six matches so far, will face fivetime champions Chennai Super Kings in their fourth home game here on Friday, and Stoinis is confident about his team’s good show against ‘Yellow Army’, especially Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
“It’s our home game and we are ready to tackle CSK. I know that people will be rooting for MSD, but we have our own supporters, too, to challenge them at the ground. It’s going to be an exciting match as MSD has a lot of respect and love of fans in India,” said Stoinis.