At 23, He's Getting Some Really Good Experiences - Graham Thorpe Says IPL Stint Has Helped Sam Curran 'Enormously'

At the age of just 23, Sam Curran is making a huge impact in world cricket. So much that he has become a mainstay in the Chennai Super Kings line-up in the IPL, and is an all-format player for England.

England’s assistant coach, Graham Thorpe, who is also the stand-in coach for their ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, reckons the left-handed all-rounder has gained “enormously” from his experience of playing in the IPL in the last three seasons.

Sam Curran was terrific in IPL 2019 for Punjab, and was CSK’s best player in the IPL 2020 in the UAE; he has only gained higher stature with both bat and ball in the suspended IPL 2021.

Thorpe says that being put under pressure in the IPL helps him learn about dealing with it, not least from MS Dhoni; his learnings have been visible in his short, but notable, international career so far.

“I think it’s helped him enormously. Every environment Sam has gone into, he’s shown that ability to compete and an ability to find a way of putting performances in. From that perspective, playing in the IPL has put him in high-pressured situations and pushed him,” Thorpe said after Sam Curran took his maiden international five-for in the second ODI against Sri Lanka.

“His hitting ability with the bat was always there. I think that’s progressed to a really good level. He’s bowling at important times in the IPL, so he’s put under pressure and challenged. At 23, he’s getting some really good experiences.”

The challenge for Sam Curran to be a multi-format cricketer is consistency in delivering: Graham Thorpe

The 51-year-old coach feels Sam Curran is on a similar path as that of premier all-rounder Ben Stokes. However, he cautions the youngster to look after his form and fitness, as being an all-format player, especially a seam-bowling all-rounder is one of the hardest jobs in the sport.

“As you know, with someone like Ben Stokes, the amount of work and fitness levels that are required for that is huge. So the challenge for Sam to be a multi-format cricketer is delivering that consistency as well for England time and time again.

“That’ll be one of the bigger challenges for Sam going forward. But that very much lies on his shoulders to do that. We know we’ve got a very exciting cricketer with us, and we just have to keep encouraging him to improve and keep getting better as a player all the time,” Thorpe further added.