IPL in the UAE: Discipline key, says Kings XI Punjab's Laxmipathy Balaji

Dubai: Laxmipathy Balaji displayed the same form with which he used to destroy opponents as India’s opening bowler in the Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday. The lanky pacer spearheaded the Kings XI Punjab bowling attack against Sunrisers Hyderabad with a deadly spell of 4 for 13, which helped inspire his side to a 72-run win.

His victims were the best of Hyderabad players starting from opener Aaron Finch, the dangerous David Warner and Darren Sammy, as well as Dale Steyn.

When Gulf News asked Balaji how he could produce such a spell on a wicket where his team scored 190 runs, Balaji said: “I think sticking to the basics and bowling to the field is very important. You have to think whether to mix the pace or go to a fuller length and all this you have to figure very quickly in Twenty20s. Some days you get hit, some days you come out with three-four wickets. So it’s important to be disciplined and keep coming hard. Forgetting about the previous ball is also very important.”

Balaji, who uses his height to hit the deck hard, could also generate excellent bounce off the wicket. The 32-year-old India team discard showed that he can still wreck teams like he did against Pakistan in Rawalpindi during India’s historic tour in 2003-04.

Does he think he is lucky he doesn’t have to bowl to his teammate Glenn Maxwell in a match and only at the nets? A smiling Balaji said. “It’s good to see him bat and fortunately I am in the same team. Maxi’s doing a good job for the team.”

Balaji, who had a hat-trick to his credit in the IPL while playing for Chennai Super Kings in 2008, lauded his team’s bowling attack. “We are bowling well as a unit. We are trying our best to execute our plans. And we’ll get better from here on. It’s been a positive start as a bowling unit. It’s very important for us to get the momentum and keep going.”

Punjab skipper George Bailey agreed that his team’s bowling is as good as their batting. “I am really happy with the bowling. I thought what we saw from our batting innings and what we saw the wicket was doing, we learnt from it very quickly. Led by Bala, all the bowlers summed that up really quickly. Our fielding wasn’t too good tonight, but we are lucky to get away with it,” he said.

Bailey then went on to praise their 20-year-old slow left-arm bowler Akshar Patel, who took two wickets: “He’s doing a fantastic job for a young guy. He’s only going to get more confident. He works really hard. Let’s not forget, he’s a great fielder too, and took a good catch tonight. We haven’t seen it yet, but he’s a good batsman. He’s a fantastic cricketer. I really love seeing his work ethic. He’s doing a really good job for us. He has opened the bowling and we have pushed him a little later too. I think if he continues performing, he could be the lead spinner of the team.”