Tim Southee impressed Ricky Ponting and Co. enough for them to buy the Kiwi paceman at the IPL 2016 Player Auction. Southee now gears up for his maiden IPL season in the blue of MI and spoke exclusively to mumbaiindians.com on the eve of the season opener against Rising Pune Supergiants.

Excerpts

It’s a new season and you are joining the defending champions. Do you have any surprise weapon in your arsenal?

It’s exciting to join the new team and I have enjoyed my few days I have had here, there aren’t too many new surprises for now, but hopefully I will have them at the end of the tournament.

You have bowled with Shane bond for New Zealand and since we have him as our bowling coach, what advice has he given you and how helpful is he with his coaching tips?

Yeah he has got a great cricket brain, played a lot. I have played a little bit with Shane Bond. In the end I was lucky enough to have him with New Zealand as the bowling coach and now fortunate enough to be working with him again here. I like his outlook on the game and the way he thinks about the game, having been there, done it himself and he is a great guy, just to talk to about cricket and bowling.

How has your experience been so far in the team?

It’s been enjoyable, I’ve only been here for a few days but these are a great bunch of guys and I am looking forward to the next two months playing with them.

Your friends and New Zealand mates, Corey Anderson and Mitchell McClenaghan, have been a part of Mumbai Indians. Have you taken advice from them?

It’s nice to have a couple of friends in the team who can help with a lot of things. I did have a word with them before coming here. They spoke highly about the team and how wonderful the franchise, Mumbai Indians, is.

Is there any particular batsman whom you would like to bowl against?

It’s always enjoyable to test yourself against the best. With the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Chris Gayle, Ab De Villiers and Brendon Mccullum it’s a change playing against your own teammates, which we don’t get to do often, so it’s a nice experience all-together.