Mitchell Johnson ready for showdown in IPL 7

Mitchell Johnson

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson who is missing the current World T20 tournament due to a toe infection is all set for seventh edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). He has issued a warning that he will continue to deliver the menacing spells that destroyed the confidence and mental composure of some of the best international batsmen over the last six months.

“I have often said I really do enjoy the challenges of Indian wickets. I find that you can still get good bounce and pace out of them and I noticed that during the last IPL last year. It wasn’t all just for the batsmen. I’m really excited playing on those wickets in India again and try and be intimidating as I have been in the last six months or so,” Johnson was quoted as saying by ESPN cricinfo.

Johnson believes that his last 6 months performance has given him more confidence and his good form has created a psychological edge for the IPL 7.

“Definitely it is a psychological advantage based on the past six months of my performances. I bowled a lot of short-pitched bowling which was more effective on the bouncier wickets (in Australia and South Africa). But even on the last ODI series in India I definitely tried to bowl short-pitched deliveries.”

Johnson feels that the break he got by not playing the T20 World Cup due to toe infection has helped him a lot to recover from the infection.

“The toe is feeling much better. I had an infection that came from my toe, went into my foot and up my leg. But I got on top of it very quickly with some antibiotics. I have started training this week. I am feeling very good and I will be ready to go, ball one of the IPL,” Johnson said.

The Australian fast bowler was bought by Kings XI Punjab for INR 6.5 crore ($1.4m) and he is the most expensive player that Kings XI Punjab bought in this auction.

“I might be as well prepared as I am going to be fit. I am going to be fresher. I am going to very keen because it is a new club and I would like to impress. Whatever are the responsibilities are there I am really excited about them. I know how to perform at my best and I am feeling at the top of my game so I just want to keep getting better as a player and try and bring some of the young guys with me and try and improve their game,” Johnson said.

The 32-year-old left-arm fast bowler is known for his extreme speed and accuracy. Johnson made his IPL debut in previous edition of the IPL and played a major role for Mumbai Indians by taking 24 wickets in the season. In the recent auctions he was not retained by the Mumbai Indians.

When asked about this, Johnson said, “It was a new auction. Lot of players were in the auction pool this year and that made it very difficult for everyone. It would have been exciting to obviously go back there (Mumbai), but I am very happy with Kings XI Punjab.”

Johnson is excited to play with the Kings XI Punjab.

“My manager talked to Adam Gilchrist, who said he really enjoyed a very special time there and it was a family-oriented atmosphere. I am not upset. I am not angry. I am not disappointed. This is the way it goes. I am now excited to play for the Kings and lead by example,” Johnson said.

Johnson believes that his team Kings XI Punjab has picked a very balanced team this year.

“Glenn Maxwell is in great form. He is a very exciting player. He showed the other night against Pakistan during the WT20 what he can do. Having him in the side is a huge bonus. Then we have Shaun Marsh, with whom I have played at Western Australia, an outstanding T20 player. Dave Miller can hit a long ball and that is what it is all about: hitting boundaries and the balls over the fence and getting crowds excited. Then obviously we have the experience of Sehwag, a batsman a lot of bowlers in the world struggle to bowl against. Rishi Dhawan is a good allrounder who was also with me to Mumbai, so it is a very good side,” Johnson said.