IPL made me a better player: Lendl Simmons post West Indies win against India

Johannesburg : After inspiring his side to the finals of the ongoing World T20, West Indies star batsman Lendl Simmons has said that his experience of playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) had helped him in smashing a match-winning knock during their seven-wicket victory at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Insisting that IPL had made him a better player, Simmons called the Wankhede Stadium as his home ground and said that he examined the pitch well.

Man of the Match Simmons, who played his first match of the tournament, smashed an unbeaten 82-run knock of just 51 balls and also stitched two important partnerships with opener Johnson Charles (52) and Andre Russell (43 not out) as the Caribbeans chased down the daunting target of 193 runs with two balls to spare.

Reflecting on his performance, the 31-year-old admitted that he was feeling a bit of pressure ahead of the game, but added that he entered the field with a mindset of chasing the target, Sport24 reported.

Simmons, who replaced Andre Fletcher after the latter was ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, further said that India's lack of genuine pace bowlers had helped his side to chase down the huge target.

With the win, 2012 champions West Indies have set up a summit clash against 2010 champions England to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

Ahead of the clash, Simmons warned his side not to take England lightly, saying that the team should not be over confident and should analyse the situation of the game properly.

The sixth edition of the T20 format's pinnacle event will see both England and West Indies bidding to become the first sides to win the tournament twice.