Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga, who grabbed Indian Premier League season 4's first five-wiclet haul, on Sunday said that he is not intimidated by any of the world-class batsmen in action at the IPL, including Delhi dasher Virender Sehwag.
The 'slinger' from the Emerald Island believes in playing to his strength and that is bowling yorkers and slower balls. Malinga bowled yorkers at will as his deadly five-wicket haul helped Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians crush Delhi Daredevils by eight wickets in their IPL match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi.
"I have no fear of any batsman in the world whether it's Delhi skipper Virender Sehwag or anyone. I just back my ability to bowl as fast as I can. I think of bowling accurate yorkers and slower balls. I always practice them and today was a good outing for me," Malinga said.
"I only think of wickets whenever my captain gives me the ball. I look for variety and try to bowl perfect yorkers and slow balls. I try my own things and that's how I play," he added.
Malinga, who took 5/13 with four victims off unplayable yorkers, said he just exploited the inexperience of Delhi batsmen.
"I just bowl straight and try to mix variety with pace. At the end of the day, it worked for me," he said.
Malinga's figures of 3.4-1-13-5 were the third best figures in the Twenty20 league after Sohail Tanveer (6/14 for Rajasthan Royals) and Anil Kumble's (5/5 for Royal Challengers Bangalore) efforts.
Malinga's effort was all the more laudable as the Kotla track is considered to be not so conducive for pacers.
