IPL is the biggest domestic tournament in the world – Sam Billings

England wicket-keeper batter Sam Billings is excited to play in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.

Billings was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 2 crores in the IPL mega auction. The English player has rated IPL as the biggest domestic tournament in the world.

Billings made his IPL debut for Delhi Daredevils back in the 2016 season against KKR and he scored a fine fifty. However, the right-hander played his last IPL match in the 2019 season for Chennai Super Kings. Thus, he hasn’t played in the last two seasons of the tournament and he would be looking to hit the ground running for KKR.

The right-hander from Kent has scored 334 runs in 17 IPL matches at an average of 17.58 and a strike rate of 133.6.

Sam Billings told Kolkata Knight Riders in a social media video: “Sam Hai Taiyaar. KKR Hai Taiyaar. I think the IPL is the biggest domestic tournament in the world. You don’t need to say anything more than that. It’s my sixth year and absolutely love playing over here in India.”

“I think the support, the fans take it to a completely different dimension to any other sport in the world. You’ve got 1.2 billion people or so. And everyone absolutely loves cricket. So it’s a pleasure for players to play here. It’s an honor to play here,” Billings added.

Sam Billings has the experience of playing 215 T20 matches and he will look to do a good job for the franchise.

Billings had scored a match-winning fifty against KKR in his maiden match for CSK in IPL 2018 and it will be interesting to note how he will get his opportunities for Shreyas Iyer-led team.

KKR will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on 26th March.