IPL will help prepare for ICC WT20: Gambir

India’s opening batsman Gautam Gambhir feels the Indian Premier League is the right practice platform ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 to be played in England in June.

Gambhir is enjoying a tremendous run of form and the left-hander is making the most of it by dishing out some very consistent performances. He has aggregated 300 runs in each of the past four series - 310 versus Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, 463 versus Australia in India, 361 versus England in India and 455 versus New Zealand in New Zealand.

“We hardly play Twenty20 matches so the IPL is really a blessing in disguise," Gambhir said.

"We will be playing 14 to 15 games in IPL against world class players and that's definitely going to help us in our preparations for the World Cup."

Gambhir's opening partner and Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag believes the wickets in South Africa will assist pace bowlers.

"Pacemen will have an edge in South Africa because the wickets are fast and the bounce is good," Sehwag was quoted as saying.

"But that's good for the batsmen also because they can really attack when the bounce is true.”

"We are looking forward to the tournament and we will definitely miss the home crowd, but I think there will be good crowds for the matches."

The IPL runs from April 18 to May 24.