Sam Curran preparing to use IPL experience against India in T20 series

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It is one of the quirks of the system that Sam Curran has played more than twice as many matches in the Indian Premier League as T20s for England. Indeed, his international debut only followed his maiden campaign and came a full 11 months after he'd been picked up for £800,000 by Punjab Kings.

Now at Chennai Super Kings (he was the most expensive Englishman at the draft for the delayed 2020 edition at £590,000) he has two campaigns under his belt and is a central pillar of a new era being built by MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming.

And without an appearance in the T20 Blast since August 2019, it is true to say that Curran's takes the skills he develops overseas into his England appearances.

It is a particularly pertinent point in an era where the scrutiny on the demands placed on all-format players is greater than ever. The 22-year-old was one of three England players - Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer were the others - to play all formats in 2020 as well as the IPL.

For sceptics who want England matches to be the priority during each calendar year, Curran is ready to prove once again that one can benefit the other during the five-match India T20 series.

"I feel like I came back from the last IPL a much better player," the Surrey man admitted after taking 13 wickets and scoring 186 runs for CSK. "In Dubai I did various roles and got challenged in many different ways which I really enjoyed. I think it is better for my game.

"It is a fantastic tournament, us players love playing in it. India is a great place to play cricket, it is the best T20 competition around. It is great to be playing, especially with a T20 World Cup in India it is going to be great preparation for us to keep developing in these conditions.

"You're playing against such quality opposition with such quality international players at these tournaments. 

"There is nothing better than game time and playing in games when you're under pressure. Big crowds, under pressure, different roles, chasing targets and trying to defend; it is a great tournament and you love winning so that's the way I play. 

"The IPL is a very competitive tournament. There are things I've learned that I take into the England setup and there are things that I learn in the England setup that I take into the IPL. They both compliment each other and it is a really exciting time."

^{Attention now turns to the five-match T20 series}

Curran flew home after playing both Sri Lanka Tests and was rested for the first half of the India series - but complications around travelling from the UK to India meant he was never available in Ahmedabad. He arrived on February 26 with eyes fully focused on the white-ball.

He was awarded a red-ball deal as part of the fresh batch of central contracts awarded for 2020-21 but England's rotation policy has seen the limited-overs formats prefered in his schedule.

Head coach Chris Silverwood has mooted the possibility of the stance being repeated during the Ashes series in Australia next winter, which is otherwise seen as the No.1 priority for the team. And Curran is adamant it remains the pinnacle.

"Every player's dream is to play in the Ashes," he added. "We don't know where the world is going to be when the Ashes is at the end of this year. England have made to clear they want to take every series at a time and speak with players and coaches and see how they are. 

"I haven't looked that far ahead but the pinnacle is playing in an Ashes down under which I am sure most players would say they would dream of being on that plane."

^{Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer are the other players to play all formats and the IPL in 2020}

Asked whether three-format players are realistic in the current climate, he replied: "Any player wants to play all three formats for England. That's the goal and that is my goal. But the guys who play all three formats are finding it the most challenging.

"Hopefully Covid ends soon and the vaccine allows us to get crowds in the summer. I guess that is what stops us from being in these bubbles. While the bubbles are around it is going to be tricky and we've just got to each stage at a time."

Critics of the ECB's indulgence of the IPL will take particular interest in selection for the New Zealand Tests on June 2-6 and 10-14, a series which begins three days after the conclusion to the 14th edition of the competition in India.

Curran was non-committal to either CSK or England when asked for which games he would be available for.

"Those New Zealand Tests have just come into the calendar recently," he said. "We've got those games against India as well which will be a fascinating series. Any Test cricket in England hopefully in front of some home crowds will be really nice. I've got good memories from my India series in 2018. Fingers crossed I am in those squads and playing."

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