New Delhi, April 7 Delhi Capitals have won their first two games without Mitchell Starc, but bowling coach Munaf Patel wants his key bowler to join the team as soon as possible, as he believes "no bowler in the IPL is bigger than him".
According to Munaf, Starc is comparable to only Jasprit Bumrah in terms of his skills.
Starc is still awaiting approval from Cricket Australia and is nursing a shoulder injury.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the game against Gujarat Titans, Munaf said he is constantly inquiring about Starc's arrival.
"We have won two games, so it hasn't been a major issue," Munaf said lightheartedly.
"If we don't perform well, it depends on him. He is one of the best bowlers in the world. There is no bowler in the IPL who is bigger than Starc. Bumrah is the only one I can think of. He has a lot of experience and can bowl at speeds of over 140 kmph with the new ball. I keep in touch with the team daily. Cricket Australia will update us. We need him as our main bowler," Munaf said.
At DC, Munaf is enjoying working with players like Lungi Ngidi, T Natarajan, and Aquib Nabi.
When asked about bowlers who frequently get injured while bowling at speeds of 150 kmph and above, Munaf gave a witty response.
"The bowlers who bowl at 150 kmph are not playing. If they don't play, they will get injured. We come from a system where the more you bowl, the better your rhythm. When you are injured and not in rhythm, you will automatically get injured," he said.
Talking about Ngidi, who has impressed everyone with his variations recently, Munaf praised him highly.
"Lungi, despite his limitations, is a very good bowler. He is a good player, and he is easy to manage compared to other foreign players. He understands how to bowl on these pitches. He doesn't try to bowl at express pace. He uses his yorkers and slower balls effectively," Munaf said.
On Nabi, he added: "He loves bowling and has a great work ethic. He hasn't yet adapted to the IPL. He took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, which is a significant achievement. He is ready to play for us, and he could even play as an impact player."
