Sam Billings terms "IPL" the leading T20 league in the world

19 April, 2025

In a recent press conference, the Lahore Qalandars wicketkeeper-batter candidly remarked, "You want me to say something silly? It's hard to look past the IPL as the premier competition in the world, it's very obvious, every other competition is just behind."

Billings, who is currently in the middle of an HBL PSL campaign, went on to mention the efforts of other leagues, such as the Big Bash League (BBL) and England’s T20 Blast, to emulate the IPL's dominance.

"In England (T20 Blast and The Hundred), we are trying to do the same like PSL as the second best competition in the world," he added, highlighting the competition’s status on the world stage.

Billings’ comments came just days before he took to the field for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, where he had a strong comeback performance after a duck in the opening match. He smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 19 balls against Quetta Gladiators, helping the Qalandars claim a significant victory.

In their most recent outing, Lahore posted an imposing 201/6, with Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell contributing half-centuries. Billings, who came in during the death overs, provided quick-fire runs, finishing with 19 off 10 balls.

This effort was part of Lahore's 65-run win over Karachi Kings, following a fiery bowling performance from Shaheen Afridi, which saw Karachi collapse early.

The Qalandars' performance marked their second consecutive win, which came after a loss to Islamabad United in their opening match. Looking ahead, Lahore’s next fixture will be against the Multan Sultans on April 22.

While Billings acknowledged the dominance of the IPL, he also showed respect for the PSL’s growth, particularly with his stellar performances in the current edition.

His comments are a testament to how the competition between these global T20 leagues continues to intensify, and with the rising stature of the PSL, it’s clear that Billings sees bright prospects for the future of the Pakistan-based league.