Riley Meredith ready for maiden IPL tournament

That's the view of both Meredith and former Hobart Hurricanes coach Damien Wright, who will link up with the Tasmanian speedster at the Punjab Kings as the side's bowling coach.

Purchased by the Kings for $1.4 million, the 24-year-old will be battling against the likes of fellow Australian Jhye Richardson and Chris Jordan for a bowling spot while Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Moises Henriques and Hurricanes teammate Dawid Malan are among the other internationals - four of which can play in one team.

"It's probably the premier cricket competition in the world really, so it's obviously really exciting and nervous to get over there but I'm just keen to take it a step at a time and see how I go," he said.

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"There are so many international spots on a list as well so it's pretty impossible to predict which four are going to be playing every game.

"I think it's going to be a case of putting my best foot forward at training every day and hopefully just fighting for that spot."

Set to leave for India for his first sub-continental trip as the tournament gets under way on April 9, the quick will play two more matches for the Tigers before missing their one-day finals tilt.

Describing it as "bittersweet", Meredith's mood was brightened by seeing that a familiar face in Wright had joined his new side.

"[I] spent three or four years with Wrighty before Griff [Adam Griffith] came down, so I worked really well with him," he said.

"I think he's a really good bowling coach and all the Tigers guys and blokes he's coached before have nothing but good things to say about him, so I'm really looking forward to linking up with him again and hopefully adding more strings to my bow."

Wright, who coaches University of Tasmania in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League, described Meredith as the "next best" outside Australia's main fleet of international bowlers.

"[As a rookie-contracted player] he was a very exciting and promising prospect and he was always going to get to the next level - there was no doubt about that," Wright said.

"I've loved watching his progression through the game and what he's been able to do.

"He's been tremendous for the Hurricanes and the Tigers and been rewarded with those Australian representative games and I think now I actually believe, in this IPL, he's going to make a real statement and be one of the better bowlers in the competition."

Wright's IPL promotion was announced through the Kings' social media channels in the early hours of Saturday morning, with the opportunity coming through "a few phone calls".

"I have a strong link with John Wright, who isn't with the Punjab Kings, he's with the Mumbai Indians, but he's very close with Anil Kumble - the head coach," he said.

"It was pretty much out of the blue to be honest and ... I'm really happy to be working with Anil."

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