James Anderson gives his reason as to why he wants to play in the IPL

Veteran England fast bowler James Anderson, who retired from international cricket earlier this year as the most successful pacer in Test history, has announced his decision to enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction for the first time. The 42-year-old has set a base price of ₹1.25 crore for the auction, scheduled for November 24-25 in Jeddah. This comes as a surprise given Anderson’s limited experience in T20 cricket, with his last appearance in the format dating back to 2014, and the fact he has never featured in the IPL.

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In his illustrious Test career, Anderson represented England in 188 matches, capturing 704 wickets, placing him third on the all-time list behind Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). Speaking to BBC Radio 4 Today, Anderson expressed his motivation: "There is still definitely something in me that thinks I can still play. I have never done the IPL; I have never experienced it, and for several reasons, I feel like I have more to give as a player."

Beyond continuing to develop as a bowler, Anderson views the IPL as a chance to gain coaching insights. "I have done some coaching since I retired in the summer, spending time with the England team for mentoring. The IPL is another opportunity to learn," he added.