IPL 2019: Mitchell McCleneghan aiming to play as an overseas specialist in the tournament

APL has helped me in is honing my skills which would help me tackle pressure situations, says Mitchell McClenaghan.

Mitchell McClenaghan eyeing to give his best at New Zealand domestic cricket to catch eyes for IPL 2019 | Getty Images

New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan is aiming to be picked as an overseas star in the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the back of his fresh stint at the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League (APL).

He has played his trade for the Nangarhar Leopards in the APL, which has offered the Kiwi a great opportunity to hone his skills and work on some important aspects of his game to get a chance to get noticed by national selectors, as well as, stake his claim for the IPL 2019.

McClenaghan has not been a part of the national side for a long period, having last represented New Zealand in the World T20 in India in 2016 and apart from an outing with the World XI in May of this year.

Meanwhile, McClenaghan was selected by the Mumbai Indians (MI) as a replacement for the injured Jason Behrendorff in the last edition of the IPL 2018. His presence formed a potent attack alongside Lasith Malinga, helping MI to become one of the IPL’s most successful teams. Now, Mitchell’s main goal is to play as an overseas player in the highly competitive IPL, not as a replacement.

McClenaghan told Firstpost, “I think what the APL has helped me in is honing my skills which would help me tackle pressure situations. Participation in this tournament has also given me an opportunity to try out a few different things without the fear of being hit out of the park, and I feel that I have improved a lot as a player which was one of the aims for me when I came over to Sharjah.”

He signed off by saying, “I am looking forward to spending time at home this summer in New Zealand. The idea is to play some 50-over cricket and then join my team Auckland Aces for the 2018-2019 season of Super Smash. This is a young side so I am hoping to get stuck in there and helping them out by bringing all my experience to bear. After that, I am looking to get back into IPL for the 2019 edition of the tournament. I was brought in as a replacement for injured Jason Behrendorff by the Mumbai Indians in 2018 but hopefully, I will get a proper chance and be picked as an overseas bowler next time.”

(Input: Firstpost)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 20 Oct, 2018

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