Mark Wood: “MS Dhoni as my captain will provide a great insight and I would love to work with (Dwayne) Bravo and develop my slower ball”
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England pace bowler Mark Wood has admitted that he is excited to be playing alongside Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Wood admitted that he will use Dhoni to get a better insight into the game since the 36-year-old captained India in the past and even led the country to World Cup glory in 2011.
As for Bravo, Wood wants the West Indian to help him develop his slower ball.
“I think learning to cope in pressure situations can only help,” Wood told the Chennai Super Kings website. “And picking the brains of some of the legends of the game… MS Dhoni as my captain will provide a great insight and I would love to work with (Dwayne) Bravo and develop my slower ball.”
Wood admitted that he is extremely grateful to have bought at the IPL auction last month and added that he is thrilled to be representing the Super Kings.
“It will be an immensely proud moment for me to play for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL,” Wood said. “Not only is the IPL a great competition but I also get to play for the best team! Who wouldn’t want that? I’m very lucky and hope to be a match-winner for my team.”
With the 28-year-old having been sold for his base price of INR 1.5 crores in the second round of the auction, he admitted that there will be pressure on him to live up to expectations.
“Of course there is pressure but that’s what really switches you on,” he said. “It might not go your way every time but if you give everything you’ve got and commit to every ball, then, hopefully, you come out on the right side more often than not.”
Revealing why the franchise bought Wood, Super Kings CEO KS Viswanathan said: “We were looking at someone who can regularly bowl at 140kmph and (Head Coach) Stephen Fleming felt Wood was a good option. We feel he has the potential to do well in the IPL.”
The Super Kings will kick off their IPL campaign against the Mumbai Indians, who are the reigning champions, on April 7 at the Wankhede Stadium.