'Pace is what fizzes me up the most'

Punjab Kings bowler Lockie Ferguson on speed, partnerships, finding an edge in a batter's world

- Rudraneil Sengupta

With the white ball, he is pure white heat. Fiercely committed to scorching pace and bounce, Lockie Ferguson was, most famously, New Zealand's bowling hero at the 2019 ODI World Cup in England, all the way till the Kiwis lost that infamous final on a whimsical rule few knew even existed.

A prized asset for his 150 kmph speed—he is among the fastest bowlers in the world, if not the fastest—Ferguson has forged a wonderful career for his country.

His IPL career has been more chequered—even though he was part of the title-winning Gujarat Titans team in 2022, Ferguson has been a journeyman—finding himself in new teams every couple of seasons or so. This year, he is part of Punjab Kings under seasoned IPL coach Ricky Ponting, and with India's leading T20 bowler, Arshdeep Singh, as his partner in pace.

In an interview squeezed in between the hectic schedule of the ongoing IPL, Ferguson spoke about adjusting to his new team, and what it means to be a fast bowler in an age where batting seems to reign supreme. Edited excerpts:

It's been just a couple of weeks, but how are you fitting in at Punjab Kings?

I'm having a great time. It's early days, but I think the team's really gelling; it's a great bunch of players, but also the coaching staff and the support staff are fantastic. Great leadership with Ricky and Shreyas (captain Shreyas Iyer). I feel like I'm in good hands, and I'm looking forward to the next couple of games.

Are you developing a good partnership with Arshdeep? He's such a canny T20 bowler. The two of you can be the perfect combination of speed and guile.