IPL: Fit-again Mitchell Johnson available for Kings XI from Day 1

Mitchell Johnson has been declared fit to resume playing duties. The Aussie pacer will assist Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).

Mitchell Johnson has been cleared to resume playing duties after recovering from an infection in his right leg that ruled him out of the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. Johnson's next playing commitment is with Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. The first leg of the T20 tournament starts in the UAE next Wednesday, April 16.

According to Cricket Australia, Johnson has been declared fit to play. Johnson's toe infection had spread to his leg. The left-arm pacer, who did a fine job for Mumbai Indians last season, was picked up by Kings XI in the IPL auctions in February.

Johnson got the infection from a cut suffered during Australia's series-clinching third Test triumph over South Africa in Cape Town. His place in the Australian T20 squad was filled by 32-year-old Doug Bollinger. The Aussies failed to qualify for the World Twenty20 semifinals.

Johnson was managed by a team of medical specialists. He has a more than a million-dollar (Rs 6.5 crore) deal with the Punjab team. Now Johnson has to justify this price tag for his new IPL team.

"I have often said I really do enjoy the challenges of Indian wickets. I find that you can still get good bounce and pace out of them and I noticed that during the last IPL last year. It wasn't all just for the batsmen. I'm really excited playing on those wickets in India again and try and be intimidating as I have been in the last six months or so," Johnson has said.

Story first published on: Monday, 07 April 2014 13:00

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Shweta Pandey

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