Maddinson ready for second shot at IPL

Nic Maddinson says his previous experience in the Indian Premier League has better prepared him for his second season with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The 23-year-old batsman, who plays for Sydney Sixers in the KFC T20 Big Bash League, played two matches in the 2014 edition of the IPL before being sidelined by injury.

It might not have been the ideal tournament for Maddinson, but he said he was richer for the experience.

“The benefit of going there last year was getting to know the environment,” Maddinson told sydneysixers.com.au

“The hardest part was going over there and not knowing what to expect, but now most of the team that we’ve got is the same (as last season), and a lot of the coaches are the same, so I guess it is beneficial that I had the time last year.”

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Maddinson will play alongside some of the world’s best cricketers at Bangalore, including fellow Sixer Mitch Starc, India Test captain Virat Kohli, No.1 ranked ODI batsman AB de Villiers and West Indies star Chris Gayle.

Asked which teammate he believed was the most valuable, Maddinson said it was hard to split the Royal Challengers’ star-studded line-up.

Image Id: ~/media/81838DCDDEB14C05A6B6BABC65DB4EE4Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle at the 2012 IPL // Getty Images

“That’s a tough question, it’s a pretty handy line up,” he said.

“I think at the moment, AB de Villiers, in a few of those IPL games he scored 80 off 30 out of nowhere to get us home, and it was quite rare to see.

“I think Gayle, when he comes off he is wonderful, but I think with AB, he saves you 20-30 runs in the field as well, so I think that adds to his overall package.

“It’s hard. Starcy was probably our best bowler last year at Bangalore. He is one of the best fielders in the team - I think he took the most catches in the team and he is one of the leading wicket takers, - so it is tough to decide between those two.”

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Sean Abbott is joining Starc and Maddinson at Bangalore, with the all-rounder preparing for his maiden IPL experience after being snapped up at auction.

Image Id: ~/media/864786EBC2E44EDA9F5AF1B942775D69Sean Abbott playing for Sydney Sixers in the BBL // Getty Images

Maddinson said his advice to Abbott has been to sit back and enjoy the experience.

“The main thing that I found difficult that I did not know what to expect, so I have just tried to pass onto him that it is quite a relaxed kind of environment,” Maddinson said.

“I went over there thinking it was going to really full on, but it was quite relaxed which is a credit to the coaching staff we have in Daniel Vettori, Trent Woodhill from Australia and Allan Donald.

“It is hard to come from Australia at the end of our season and be thrown into the tournament with guys like Virat walking around and it is like they’re in their own TV shows.

“You sort of take a back seat and watch how it all unfolds.”