Beuran Hendricks became the latest seamer to join the Mumbai Indians ranks after he was roped in to replace Alzarri Joseph, who was ruled out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 due to injury. The South African has previously represented Kings XI Punjab and will be looking to make an impact with MI this season. Mumbai are currently third in the standings and look on course for the playoffs.

Ahead of MI’s clash against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, Hendricks spoke to reporters at the pre-match press conference. The left-arm seamer from Cape Town was quick to steer clear of questions surrounding MI’s team plans. “I have just arrived so I can't indulge in the planning the guys have done. I have to try and fit into the system as best as I can or as quickly as I can so yeah, those answers are quite tough for me. We are lying in third (spot) at the moment, there'll be a big push to getting to the playoffs and possibly the final as well. Looking at that I am assuming it's going to be hard work getting into that position,” Hendricks said.

The 28-year-old is a more rounded cricketer than he was during his stint with KXIP having been a part of the South Africa A and senior squads recently. While reflecting on his time with Punjab, Hendricks said: “Obviously I had a long time to look at what happened and on what's lost and what's gained over the recent years. But for me, it is (about) taking every opportunity. It's been said that its quite hard to come back into the IPL once you have been there and gone out. But I see it as an opportunity and I want to strengthen this opportunity.”

When asked about skipper Rohit Sharma’s lack of runs this season, Hendricks added: “Obviously for anybody if you're not scoring runs or not taking wickets there's a bit of pressure on you. But we know the type of player that he is and the calibre that he has. So, I am sure he is not short of coming up with that big one in the games to come.”

He also enthused at the prospect of sharing the dressing room with Jasprit Bumrah as well as Lasith Malinga and learning from legends like Director of Cricket Operations, Zaheer Khan and bowling coach Shane Bond. “It's going to be a pleasure, honestly these guys have been so successful for their national sides and their IPL sides respectively. It's just for me to come in, fit in and ask as many questions as I can,” Hendricks explained.