Kings XI Punjab's (KXIP) overseas recruit from the Caribbean, pacer Sheldon Cottrell, said he is excited to play the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE from September 19 under the captaincy of KL Rahul.
Appointed to lead KXIP for the first time, Rahul will be hoping to inspire his troops with the bat and try to end the franchise's longstanding trophy drought.
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Cottrell, who was bagged by KXIP at the auction in December last year for INR 8.5 crore, said he is really motivated to do well in what will be his maiden IPL season under Rahul's fresh leadership.
"I am very much excited about playing in the IPL," Cottrell told ANI in an interview. "I just cannot wait to be with the Kings XI family. I am looking forward to playing under the captaincy of KL Rahul, he is a wonderful guy. I would be playing alongside Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran as well. I am going to give my 120 per cent all the time."
"The first time I spoke with KL Rahul was when India last toured the Caribbean, we talked briefly, he is a phenomenal cricketer, he is so cool and calm. I am looking forward to trading information with him, I would look to pick his brains as he has played a lot more cricket than I have."
"I am really excited to play under his leadership and to see what leadership qualities he brings to the table," added the West Indies left-arm quick.
During his IPL stint, Cottrell, whose grip on the slower ball could well be key to KXIP's success on surfaces in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, will also have the chance to bowl in tandem with Mohammad Shami.
In anticipation of that, he said: "Mohammad Shami has been playing IPL since the very start, he has to possess something special and with me as a professional athlete, I always want to pick the brains of top players, I am a student of the game and I am still learning, so I will continue learning from him as well."
Cottrell also spoke about what it would feel like playing the T20 format behind closed doors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
For someone so used to having fans cheering for his wickets as he goes about doing the 'salute' celebration, the silence in stadiums could feel deafening.
Good thing for Cottrell is that he'll experience some of that even before turning up for IPL 2020, through the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which starts on August 18.
Personally, however, Cottrell said it wouldn't make that much of a difference, given the intensity and focus the players will have on the job at hand.
"I would say playing behind closed doors would not make much of an impact, it will be a bit different though. Playing in Caribbean domestic leagues, we are used to playing in front of empty stadiums, I am just looking forward to bring my A-game and my ‘salutes’ to the fans who are watching worldwide," he said.
Lastly, on being asked whether we could see him taking a knee in support of the global 'Black Lives Matter' campaign in the IPL 2020, Cottrell answered in the affirmative.
"Yeah, most definitely, I would be taking the knee if it comes down to it, I am all in for Black Lives Matter movement, I am against racism, if it comes down to it, I would be taking the knee to show my support with the movement," he signed off.
