Duminy feels the pressure

Johannesburg - South Africa batting star JP Duminy says that even though he has enjoyed a fairytale year he feels the pressure of playing behind superstars Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya in the elite Mumbai Indians batting line-up in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“It is an amazing feeling to be in a team with such big reputations. But it is pressurising to come in at three or four and bat behind Jayasuriya and Tendulkar, especially considering their quality and experience,” Duminy told SuperCricket.

However, Duminy insists that he is not unnerved by the top-quality players in his new team.

“I have become used to playing with such top cricketers, especially with my series in Australia, so I don’t feel intimidated. We are team-mates, afterall”, Duminy laughed.

Duminy, one of the stars of the historic South African test and one-day series victory in Australia earlier this year, was bagged for a mammoth $950 000 by the Mumbai Indians franchise impressed with the talent he displayed during the Australian tour.

He was a spectator during the first edition of the IPL last year but his price tag for the second edition of the tournament places him amongst the top ten highest paid cricketers in the IPL.

He says the price was surprising, but being in the competition is the real deal.

“It was obviously a dream of mine to be part of the IPL. Of course I didn’t expect that price tag, but I am very chuffed to be here, and I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead”, he said.

The Mumbai Indians have emerged as one of the tournament favourites following an emphatic victory over last year’s finalists, the Chennai Super Kings, in the opening game of the IPL in Cape Town.

Their second game, against the Rajasthan Royals, was a non-starter with intermittent rain resulting in the game being abandoned.

Mumbai’s next match in the IPL is against the Deccan Chargers on Saturday 25 April.