“There were a few things off the field that I needed to deal with and I have done that. I have seen a couple of specialists and I am right on top of things now. It was just a bit of a break and it freshened me up.” -Photo by AFP

NEW DELHI: Australian Luke Pomersbach says he is ready to deliver in the new Indian Premier League (IPL) season after winning his battle with depression.

The middle-order batsman, who has returned to play again for 2011 runners-up the Royal Challengers Bangalore, announced last year he was taking a break from cricket for his own well being.

Pomersbach said he was now “on top of things” after suffering a bout of depression and was determined to make the most of the Twenty20 tournament, which started Wednesday.

“When you play a lot of cricket, sometimes you need a bit of a break and need to start thinking about other things in the life,” Pomersbach, 27, was quoted as saying in the Hindu newspaper on Thursday.

“There were a few things off the field that I needed to deal with and I have done that. I have seen a couple of specialists and I am right on top of things now. It was just a bit of a break and it freshened me up.”

Pomersbach, who was once suspended by Western Australia after a drinking session, conceded he had made a few mistakes in the past.

“Some people deal with these problems better than others. Some people deal with them badly and make the wrong choices in life,” said Pomersbach, who represented Australia in just one Twenty20 international.

“Unfortunately, I went down that path and made a few bad decisions. But I've learnt a lot from them and I suppose I've got that experience.

“You shouldn't even think about cricket when serious issues like that come up in your life. I suppose I've just got to get back to enjoying my game and look forward to my next game.”

Pomersbach said the IPL was the best learning curve for players like him with little international experience.

“It's fantastic to be a part of this, particularly for someone who doesn't have much international experience. It is great to be around guys like Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Daniel Vettori,” he said.

“Hopefully, an opportunity will arise during the tournament and I'm ready to grab it with both the hands.”

Bangalore clash with Delhi Daredevils in their opening match on Saturday.