Wisden India Extra Issue 3

ISSUE 3, OCTOBER 2013

HOME TRUTHS A LOOK AT THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF INDIAN DOMESTIC CRCKET

EDITOR’S LETTER It’s rare that you remember a match you never watched, even more so when it wasn’t even an international game. In some cases though, the snippets of information that you gather as the years go by serve to create a complete panorama in your mind, even when you didn’t so much as see a ball live, or on television.

I was in the middle of switching jobs when Mumbai took on Tamil Nadu in the 1999-2000 Ranji Trophy semifinals. It was the worst of times. Just four days before the game began, Delhi Police had begun to reveal details of a conversation between Hansie Cronje and a bookmaker. Cronje had just led his South African side to a 2-0 win in the Test series.

Sachin Tendulkar had resigned as captain.

Though not yet 27, he would never lead India again.

Even when he came back to the Mumbai fold, it was as one of the boys. Sameer Dighe was leading, and by stumps on the second

day, things didn’t look rosy for the home side. They were 141 for 4, with Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli having the onerous task of overhauling Tamil Nadu’s total of 485.

It wasn’t as though domestic cricket was hugely popular then. The first two days had seen paltry crowds, even with so many India internationals and prospects on both sides. Then, it happened. On the third day, Tendulkar and Kambli added 121 in the 31 overs bowled before lunch. Though mobile phones had not yet become ubiquitous, and people thought twice before machinegun texting, word got around. By midafternoon, even with Kambli gone after a dashing 107-ball 75, the crowd had swelled to several thousand. By stumps, it could have been an international game, such was the level of interest.

Tendulkar, dropped at slip by J Madanagopal off Sadagopan Mahesh when 42, finished

the day on 213 not out. Mumbai had just two wickets in hand, and needed 16 more to get the first-innings lead. There was never any doubt that they would get there.

Though neither Abey Kuruvilla nor Santosh Saxena troubled the scorers, it didn’t matter.

Tendulkar was not about to be denied. His unbeaten 233 spanned more than nine hours, and included 21 fours and five sixes. Far bigger scores have been made in the Ranji Trophy, but few will be as easily recalled by so many.

It was as if every ounce of hurt and betrayal that Tendulkar felt – India had also been thrashed 3-0 in Australia months earlier – had gone into the making of this epic. But it wasn’t just the innings of a man lashing out against a world that had let him down. It was that of a player who cherished turning out for his state as much as he did the national cap. It was the

masterpiece of a man who had grown up on stories of Mumbai cricket’s invincibility, who would not allow them to become a distant memory.

As Tendulkar prepares to play what is likely to be his final Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai, we can only hope that those who grew up watching him care as much about the ‘unglamorous’ games. We at Wisden India do, and this Extra is an attempt to focus the spotlight on those who gave the sport yeoman service even when the media buzz was a million miles away. Like Tendulkar, they too are heroes.

Dileep Premachandran is editor-in-chief at Wisden India. Follow him on Twitter @SpiceBoxofEarth

Contributors: R Kaushik, Anand Vasu, Shamya Dasgupta, Saurabh Somani, Disha Shetty, Manoj Narayan, Dileep V, Sidhanta Patnaik, Shashank Kishore, Kritika Naidu| Compiled by Manish Adhikary | Designed by Ashish Mohanty

ISSUE 3, OCTOBER 2013

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WISDEN INDIA EXTRA

CONTENTS A season of hope, and desperation

6

Pujara and the Saurashtra surge

10

For love or money?

16

‘Today’s keepers are allrounders’

21

One more day of summer

27

K Bhaskar Pillai: The Nearly Man

31

ALL PICTURES PUBLISHED AS PART OF ‘HOME TRUTHS’ ARE COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES, AFP, SPORTS ILUSTRATED INDIA AND WISDEN INDIA ARCHIVE

CONTENTS

The Wanderers

35

Rajinder Goel: The odd man out

39

Bench Strength

42

Vijay Bharadwaj: The local hero

45

Bahutule and the road less travelled

50

The Ranji quiz

53

ISSUE 3, OCTOBER 2013

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A SEASON OF HOPE, AND DESPERATION

By R Kaushik

I

t’s a sign of the times we live in, rather than any great indictment of the man himself, that Mahendra Singh Dhoni hasn’t played a single Ranji Trophy match since he made his Test debut in December 2005.

Dhoni’s Ranji Trophy side is unfashionable Jharkhand, a team that has seldom been involved during the business end of the tournament. Even on the off chance that India had a rare break from international cricket towards January, there was no scope for Dhoni to play in the tournament because his team would already have been eliminated.

There was a time not so long ago when

domestic cricket in India was vibrant and extremely competitive, with most of the international stars turning out for the respective teams. Tales of Sachin Tendulkar returning from an international tour in the early hours of the day, and dashing over to Wankhede Stadium for a Ranji game involving his beloved Mumbai are as inspiring as they are legendary. But somewhere along the way, domestic cricket in India went from being the stepping stone to international cricket to being just another formality to be dispensed with, season after season.

The presence in the Ranji Trophy of a Dhoni or a Tendulkar, a Zaheer or a Sehwag, or a Gambhir or a Kohli, has an impact on many

A SEASON OF HOPE, AND DESPERATION

CROWD MAGNET Tendulkar walks out to bat in the Ranji Trophy match against Railways at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, on November 2, 2012.

levels. For one thing, it elevates the profile of the tournament, and for another it returns attention to domestic cricket, which has for a while been the neglected, occasionally

forgotten poor cousin to the international game. And more than anything else, it inspires and motivates young men, who get to share the same dressing room or a playing arena with

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RANJI TROPHY 2013-14

some of the biggest names in Indian cricket.

welcome development.

Every domestic season begins with the promise of a better tomorrow. Almost every season is grandiosely labelled the season of hope, the season when dreams will come to fruition, when ambition will be realised, when performance meets recognition and desire is fulfilled. Sometimes, pleasant accidents do transpire but mostly, one season mechanically gives way to another, the formality of a domestic calendar spills over from this season to the next.

The start of this season, too, saw a similar story unfold. A revamped domestic calendar began with the Challenger Series from September 26, a good platform ahead of the home limited-overs internationals against Australia. The Duleep Trophy was also played in October, and the Ranji season begins shortly before West Indies arrive in India for two Tests and a limited-overs series. What all this means is that the regulars will get a chance to ease themselves back into competitive cricket, and the aspirants and the discards the opportunity to pressure the

The men will be separated from the boys, the cream will rise to the top. It’s a hope this season will explore more desperately than any before it.

Saying that, the last couple of seasons have seen the international stars turn out more frequently for the state sides, even if for entirely self-serving reasons. Players short on international form and confidence have returned to the Ranji Trophy to feed off the feel-good factor emanating from impressive performances; others have tried to stake their claims for a return to the national side. Not many have necessarily played for their states with an eye on bolstering the team’s prospects, it must be admitted, but no matter the reason, the very fact that the big boys of Indian cricket played reasonably regularly whenever they could in domestic competitions was a most

selectors with strong performances.

Prior to the start of the last domestic season, Indian cricket desperately sought men who could occupy the slots left vacant by the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja, the Saurashtra duo, have made those berths theirs for now. Pujara has slotted in nicely at No. 3 while Jadeja, who broke into the Test ranks on the back of two triple hundreds in a month, is more a bowling allrounder at the Test level, which in effect means that even one year after Laxman’s retirement, India haven’t found a passable replacement.

A SEAON OF HOPE, AND DESPERATION

Carrom

BALL In 1934 Maharaja of Patiala and Maharaja of Vizianagram, fought over naming rights of the national championship. While the former wanted the trophy named after KS Ranjitsinhji, the latter wanted it named after the then viceroy Lord Willingdon.

It was finally named the Willingdon Trophy, only for Lord Willingdon himself to switch trophies and award the Ranji Trophy to Mumbai.

It wasn’t until Virat THE LEG-UP The presence of Kohli set his stall out at top players such as the beginning of 2012 that Tendulkar, Yuvraj and India finally managed Kumble in the past has helped improve the to fill the breach caused tournament’s profile.

by Sourav Ganguly’s Test retirement in November 2008. The hunt for a man to fill Laxman’s giant boots continues even as the selectors grapple with a bigger headache. By the end of November, even the great Tendulkar would have retired, after playing his 200th Test against West Indies in Mumbai. Obviously, no replacements can immediately be found for the likes of Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar, but the season ahead will offer further clues about the men that are most likely to answer the calls of the team.

Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, among others, will eye the spots they have occupied at various stages with renewed interest. And then, there is the small matter of Zaheer, determined to regain the Test spot snatched away from him last year during the series against England, and who his potential successors are.

We did say season of hope, didn’t we?

Indian cricket is very clearly in the throes of transition, with the old order giving way to the new. If this doesn’t spur the young hopefuls to stirring deeds, then nothing else will. The men will be separated from the boys, the cream will rise to the top. It’s a hope this season will explore more desperately than any before it. Don’t take your eye off domestic cricket for the next six months. ‡

ISSUE 3, OCTOBER 2013

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PUJARA AND THE SAURASHTRA SURGE

By Shashank Kishore

C

heteshwar Pujara is one of many Indian batsmen who score piles of runs season after season on the domestic circuit in the hope of getting a run at the international level. He spent a number of years on the fringes, waiting for some of the established stars to retire. When slots in the batting order started opening up, Pujara found himself out with injuries.

After his recovery, he did pretty much everything he could to keep the selectors interested, before earning a recall in August 2012. Since then, he’s established himself at No. 3 in the Test team, led the India A team on overseas tours and is now hoping to make a mark in the limited-

overs format. In an exclusive chat with Wisden India, Pujara talked about the influence of domestic cricket, formative years in Saurashtra, what it takes to succeed at the highest level and much more. Excerpts: How important was the domestic grind for you while growing up?

Undoubtedly, junior cricket was a very important part in my development as a player.

A lot of focus is given to the Under-19 level, but for me it started a good five years before that at the Under-14 level. Then, I went on to play at the Under-16 and the Under-19 level in the same year. Junior cricket, I’d say, lays

PUJARA AND THE SAURASHTRA SURGE

RUN MACHINE The discipline of putting a value on his wicket was ingrained in Pujara during his days as a junior cricketer.

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CHETESHWAR PUJARA

the foundation for you and that is where the importance of valuing my wicket, scoring big runs and making every opportunity count became ingrained. So I’d definitely say that prepared me for the challenges ahead.

You made your first-class debut before the Twenty20 revolution in India. Did that, in a way, mould you into the batsman that you are today?

It’s difficult to say if a lack of T20s early on helped me or not, but then we had the oneday format, which in many ways is similar, so

to adjust and change your game and get the basics right. That’s when cricketers are receptive to ideas. Once you cross that age, it becomes difficult to make adjustments.

Having played most of your cricket in Rajkot, a veritable batting paradise, did you have to work that much more to adapt to different conditions elsewhere?

Yes. Obviously, all those references of scoring runs on a flat wicket in Rajkot were made and that in many ways made me more determined.

Whenever I played away from Rajkot, I was

‘I got out to a ball that kept really low. Later that night, Sachin paaji came up to me and told me any batsman could have been dismissed with that delivery.’ my approach didn’t change drastically. Having said that, I believe it is up to the players to take it upon themselves and understand what they want to derive out of the game, because ultimately everyone playing domestic cricket knows that you have to score big in the longer formats to earn recognition. That is what will help you stand out. So I never felt T20s or ODIs hampered my game. I was extremely fortunate to have played a number of four-day matches at the Under-19 level itself, so automatically I was tuned to adapting to different formats, because we still played a lot of one-day cricket at that level. Personally, irrespective of the format, it is only at the junior level that you have a chance

always under pressure because people always kept saying scoring runs on a flat wicket doesn’t count. What people don’t understand is that it’s easy to say the pitch is flat, but you still have to go out and score runs. There were many games where I made big runs and the opposition batsmen, who were also playing on the same wicket, couldn’t quite score as many. But yes, even if I knew how hard it was to still go out and make runs, I always had this at the back of my mind that runs away from home would ultimately get noticed.

Saurashtra weren’t a force to reckon with when you made your first-class debut (2005).

PUJARA AND THE SAURASHTRA SURGE

Today, they’re challenging the top teams in the Ranji Trophy. How has your role within the set-up changed over the years?

The year when I made my debut, we qualified for the final of the (Ranji Trophy) Plate league, and from the next year we played in the Elite group. But as a team, there was a general feeling of inferiority. Whenever a team came to Saurashtra, they took us for granted and looked at us as an opponent against whom an easy outright win was a possibility. I was determined to change that, not just from a personal point of view but also as a team. That is where I took the responsibility from the batting point of view.

That changed my thinking as a batsman because I had to score runs for the team and ensure we fought till the end. As far as I remember, I don’t think we lost too many times when I made a century and that also helped bring about a change in mindset within the team. It brought in a lot of awareness about how much we had to step up as a group if we had to compete with the top sides.

Saurashtra has produced two other cricketers – Ravindra Jadeja and Jaydev Unadkat – who’ve made a mark at the international level, while many others are on the fringes. What would you attribute this rise to?

I think, more than anything, the mindset and attitude have changed. As a group, there is more self-belief today because the approach has changed. The facilities have improved, we’ve had a number of players like myself, Jaddu and Jaydev who’ve played for the country and that

has really motivated the team and given them confidence to think big. Not just be satisfied playing domestic cricket but to push further, go out of their comfort zones and aim to play for the country. We’ve had a lot of talented batsmen of late such as Sheldon Jackson and Aarpit Vasavada. They’re all hard working. Whenever we’re around, we share ideas. They’re open to suggestions and I’m more than happy to give my inputs to any of the young players when I’m around. We’re a nice unit; there is no age barrier so it is easy to gel as a team. We don’t believe in seniority and such things.

You made heaps of runs before earning a call-up to the Test squad against Australia in October 2010. Talk us through that debut experience.

I was really disappointed at missing out on a scoring opportunity there [Sachin Tendulkar and Murali Vijay made big hundreds and put together a 309-run stand before Pujara went out to bat]. As a team, we were in a very good position, so I didn’t think we’d bat for a second time in the game. I got out to a ball that kept really low and I was dejected. Later that night, Sachin paaji came up to me and told me any batsman could have been dismissed with that delivery and I didn’t have to worry about it.

While it comforted me for a while, deep down I knew it was a big chance. But all I could do was just focus on my preparation and training and look forward to my next opportunity. When I was promoted to No. 3 in the second innings, I was in a better frame of mind. I was in good touch, honestly, and I sensed an opportunity to score because they tried to attack me. Things

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CHETESHWAR PUJARA

worked beautifully there and I scored 70-odd [72] and we won, so it was indeed a debut to remember.

Injuries have dogged you too – the knee injury you suffered during IPL 2011 was a career-threatening one. How did you get over the setback?

It was disheartening. I was shocked because I never thought something like this could happen to anyone. The very thought of being out of the game for six months was frightening. But luckily I knew age was on my side and I concentrated on my rehabilitation.

I can’t thank the NCA (National Cricket Academy) enough because they had a big role to play in me getting fit once again. At times, I used to get sad thinking why the injury had to happen to me when things were beginning to shape up well. I did everything I had to do to stave off injuries. I trained well, I didn’t compromise on my diet, the processes were in place. But I guess that is how it was meant to be. Fortunately, my father was really supportive. Having played domestic cricket for Saurashtra, he kept motivating me. He knows me as a cricketer and as a friend too, so to have him around at that time was reassuring. But all along, I had the self-belief that I could overcome any setbacks.

THE INSPIRATION

“Rahul bhai told me to play to my strengths rather than think about what people have to say about my game,” says Pujara.

When you made a return to the Test squad in August 2012, you were slotted at No. 3.

PUJARA AND THE SAURASHTRA SURGE

There were talks of you having big boots to fill. Did comparisons with Rahul Dravid put extra pressure on you?

I’ve had a good start after my return from the knee injury, but even at the point when I made a comeback last year, I didn’t agree with that comparison. I was under pressure because in many ways it was a second lease of life as far as my career was concerned. I had to start from scratch after my injuries and prove myself again. On top of that, there were these comparisons. In the first game itself, I scored a century against New Zealand in Hyderabad and I knew a part of my dream, of scoring a century for India, had been realised. Next game, my inner thinking was different because I knew I didn’t have to play to be a part of the playing XI. I had to find ways of improving as a cricketer and I worked on improving my game rather than worrying about external factors. Talking of Rahul bhai, like any other youngster would tell you, I’ve learnt so much just by watching him prepare, go about his routine before and after a game. His work ethic inspires everyone.

He has given me invaluable tips. He told me to play to my strengths rather than think about what people have to say about my game.

There is hardly an off season for professionals these days – how important is down time for you?

We spend so much time away from home these days that when we are at home, we want to spend time with the family and catch up with everything we’ve missed. When I’m at home in Rajkot, I try to catch the highlights

Carrom

BALL In October 2013, a US-based sports website placed Pujara in its ‘Top 10 sports pro stock options’ list, putting him alongside triple Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel and Barcelona and Brazil Star Neymar. Pujara is the second Indian and ninth overall in first-class history to hit three triple hundreds. of the games, but then that is as much as I track cricket when I’m not playing. You can pick up a few things here and there, watching other teams play, but you can’t read too much into it because it is impossible to experience what an on-field situation teaches you. I enjoy watching movies, spending time with close friends, but I ensure it doesn’t come at the cost of my training. I ensure I don’t rest for more than a week. I work on my fitness and then hit the nets with my father. I’m still young and I don’t think there should ever be an off season for me. I may practise for just an hour, but I ensure that those are 60 quality minutes, not for anyone else but from a personal point of view. Being in touch with the environment is very important for me, and allows me to be in my zone. ‡

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INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

CASH COMFORT “If you don’t have money, you are always hesitant,” says Dhawan.

“So many houses are running because of the IPL today.”

FOR LOVE OR MONEY?

By Shamya Dasgupta

I

n one of the books in Satyajit Ray’s series on fictional Bengali detective Feluda, Lalmohan Ganguly, Feluda’s writer-friend, discovers to his dismay that he won’t get any credit for writing a story for a Bollywood film.

You get respect in Bengal and money in Mumbai, he rationalises, having pocketed a princely Rs 10,000 for his efforts.

The twain don’t always meet. Throw an oldfashioned first-class batsman with ten seasons of work behind him and a space-age Indian Premier League (IPL) batsman together and they may philosophise along similar lines.

Till six years ago, whether it was fame or money, if you got either, or both, you got it

from first-class cricket, or from international cricket, which you qualified for based on your first-class performance. Then came the IPL: specialised training replaced established practice of bringing the bat down straight or bowling in the corridor. On a length at middle and off? Get down on your knees and scoop it over the keeper. Want to bowl on off stump? Sure, but why not halve the pace and throw in a little offspin too.

Has first-class cricket suffered as a result of the shorter varieties of the game? Old-timers and purists are likely to say ‘yes’. Many who never make the effort to go to the stadium to watch a Ranji Trophy match will still talk about how domestic cricket is neglected. The

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INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

IPL? Well, they were at the stadium, so: my children enjoy it – I took them to watch a couple of matches too; it’s not cricket, but it was fun.

Rajat Bhatia thinks hard and tries to find the right words to explain the paradox.

“Financially, the IPL has been outstanding for those of us who have never played international cricket,” he says. “But when I look back after retirement, I don’t think I will stress on the fact that I played five-six years of the IPL. You become popular, but it doesn’t mean there’s pride or respect. There is a limit.

Expect this much but not more.”

known than Kotak,” Bhatia says. Kotak has played first-class cricket for Saurashtra for over two decades. Valthaty, at close to 30 years of age, has played five. His one innings of note, ever, was a blistering unbeaten 120 in IPL 2011 – nondescript before that and nondescript since.

But Bhatia is probably right in the comparative popularity stakes of the two men.

So IPL gives a cricketer – old or young, more likely – money and fame.

Why the stigma attached to the IPL for being a slam-bang specialist then? Are we

‘I think I also became a better cricketer, in terms of being able to handle pressure, after the IPL,’ says Rajat Bhatia.

Bhatia, despite 80 first-class matches in close to a decade-and-a-half, is easily recognisable these days; primarily because of the very effective dibbly-dobblies he dishes out year after year in the IPL. “IPL is cricket of a kind; a newborn kind. But first-class cricket is almost like Test cricket. It’s the real thing for people who don’t get to play Test cricket.

But if I do well in first-class cricket but not the IPL, no one will recognise me. If I flop in the Ranji Trophy, but do well in the IPL, I will be a hero.” Well, it is respect of a kind, isn’t it?

Bhatia talks about Paul Valthaty and Shitanshu Kotak. “Valthaty is probably better

so rigid about what respect means that only someone who turns out in whites year after year can earn it?

Most players will agree with Debabrata Das, the Kolkata Knight Riders and Bengal batsman, when he says: “I don’t want to be known only as a limited-overs player; I want to make a mark in days’ games too.”

Das is a classic IPL baby, someone who, at 28, still hasn’t yet made a mark in the domestic circuit but earns decent money from the IPL. The lives of these cricketers, who might never have been heard of outside limited circles,

FOR LOVE OR MONEY?

have changed because of the IPL, but if they are politically correct, they will extol the virtues of the grinding game.

Carrom

BALL

It matters little though. Money and fame are a potent combination – hard to decline in favour of old-fashioned respect for the ability to play traditional cricket.

“Earlier there was a huge gap between an international cricketer and a Ranji player. Not any more,” says Shikhar Dhawan candidly.

“Earlier, you would get jobs with banks and stuff. Earlier, I couldn’t dream of buying a house for myself. I have bought a house now with the money I earned from the IPL. When I go to an expensive restaurant, I don’t have to worry about the bill and think whether it will cost Rs 5000 or more. If you don’t have money, you are always hesitant. It’s the IPL that has made it possible. So many houses are running because of the IPL today.”

So many houses are running because of the IPL, and Iqbal Abdullah, the Mumbai leftarm spinner, explains just how. “When I left Azamgarh with nothing, I realised that I had left myself with no options,” he says. “Whether I played for India or not, I had to make a career in cricket. I didn’t have the option of failing.

I know I haven’t reached anywhere close to where I want to be, but with Allah’s grace and my self-belief, I have reached somewhere.”

Or listen to Vikramjeet Malik, the Himachal Pradesh veteran and a bit player in the IPL over the years: “The financial situation of my family has become much better since I started

Dinesh Salunkhe and Kumar Boresa were awarded Rs 10-lakh contracts with Rajasthan Royals after they won the Cricket Star, a reality show presented by the Indian Premier League team and Dainik Bhaskar to unearth hidden cricketing talent in Rajasthan.

playing the IPL. We have repaid all our old debts. We have bought new buffaloes for our farmland and leased out the farm to someone else. We also have money in the bank now.”

But, at the same time, Malik is not afraid to say, “The IPL … if you have a good day, you’re the hero. People with no skills become heroes. People with skills get whacked. Fourday cricket is the main thing.”

Perhaps it is a bit unfair to pit IPL and firstclass cricket against each other. The two coexist in relative peace today and will probably continue doing so for the foreseeable future.

And it’s true that, at least in some cases, the two formats can help individuals become better – in both formats.

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anymore. When I went to the IPL (in 2013), the confidence was really high. I needed to get a good performance early on, which I did in the very first match, scoring 40 in 20 balls against Delhi. That did it for me. I knew I could go out and compete at that level.”

In Binny’s case, it helped that he didn’t need to change his approach for either firstclass or IPL cricket. “My game is an aggressive one. I play positive cricket even in four-day games. There are minor changes – when I bat in a four-day game, I back myself to score off two-three specific shots and choose the right balls to attack. In an IPL match, I add a few more strokes, maybe even manufacture a couple,” he explains.

Bhatia concurs. “I think I also became a better cricketer in terms of being able to handle pressure after the IPL,” he says. “The IPL certainly raised the stakes. The crowds, the pressure from your employers, the money… the IPL changed everything.”

Take the case of FLASH FLOOD Valthaty is more Stuart Binny who, recognisable than after years of middling someone like Kotak performances, has because of the one recently emerged as an century he made in an IPL match, says Bhatia. allrounder of promise and has impressed both in the Ranji Trophy as well as in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals.

At the end of all the reckoning is that one big, elusive dream: the India cap, whatever the number of overs you can wear it for. Failing that, a strong first-class average and a strong IPL pay cheque is not a bad combination.

It helps too that payments for first-class cricketers have also improved since the BCCI started making profits from the IPL.

“It’s all about confidence. When I started to do well in the Ranji Trophy, it lifted me on the whole. I wasn’t fighting for my spot

So the IPL vs first-class debate, while not moot, is probably best settled with the answer: IPL + first-class cricket. The question is: Will the two will live happily ever after? ‡

“TODAY’S KEEPERS ARE ALLROUNDERS”

By Shamya Dasgupta

K

iran More played 49 Tests and 94 One-Day Internationals for India between 1984 and 1993, and first-class cricket for a good period before and after his time with the Indian team. He’s worn many hats since as well, most notably that of the chairman of selectors for the national team – that too, during a particularly tricky time in Indian cricket. More spoke to Wisden India about staying ahead of the competition, the pros and cons of being a cricketer in his era and now, as well as about wicketkeepers, in general, getting little or no attention in India.

When you started playing first-class

cricket in the 1980s, Syed Kirmani was by far the best wicketkeeper in the country.

Sadanand Viswanath was around too, and made a name before you did. Did you think you might never have an international career?

I won’t say that. Sadanand was my contemporary, but Kiri was definitely our No. 1 wicketkeeper and we all knew it. All of us were ambitious but we just kept playing wherever we got the opportunity. With Kiri, we just looked up to him and tried to imitate and emulate him. There is pressure, yes, but you just wait for your opportunities and perform.

The times were different. It really helped that I was a part of the Indian team for three years

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KIRAN MORE

STUMP VISION before I made my Test More feels teams should debut in 1986. I was strengthen their focus the reserve keeper in on wicketkeepers just the team and travelled as they look after the batting and bowling with the team, played departments with the tour matches against help of specialist coaches. the best players in the world – that’s superb education. Those days, we didn’t have too much domestic cricket. We waited for the side matches when Test teams came on tour.

Otherwise you got a Duleep Trophy match or just a few Ranji Trophy matches unless you were a part of a big team. So it was difficult.

But while I waited, I got to play with some of the greatest cricketers in India – Srinivas Venkatraghavan, Mohinder Amarnath, Kiri, Dilip Vengsarkar, Anshuman Gaekwad, (Sunil) Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and so many others. That really helped. And for someone who hadn’t played a Test match yet, it was a high.

Would you have felt any differently if you never got a chance to play for India?

All of us want to play for India – that’s no secret. Interestingly, one of the people I thank most for making me a good wicketkeeper is someone who never played for India – Padmakar Shivalkar. We played together a lot in Bombay in my formative years, and then at the Tata Sports Club. I got so many wickets because of him and I’d like to think that he feels the same way about me. I was as good as I was because I kept to him. Wicketkeepers don’t get mentioned otherwise, no one notices us. But because of him, I got noticed. Also playing in Bombay helped me. I played lots of club cricket

in the Mecca of cricket in India, Bombay; I played the Moin-ud-Dowlah tournament, the Times Shield. We got great exposure because of Hemu Adhikari’s coaching camps.

Everyone, from Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri, to Lalchand Rajput, Chandrakant Pandit, Kirti Azad, Shivlal Yadav, Roger Binny and I, was part of the camp. That was superb.

‘TODAY’S KEEPERS ARE ALLROUNDERS’

You mentioned that wicketkeepers don’t get noticed much – unless, of course, you miss a lot of chances – so it must be doubly difficult for a wicketkeeper to make a mark when there are so many at more or less the same level?

Nowadays, wicketkeepers are talked about as allrounders. Earlier, they were known for their keeping. There was a lot of competition among us – Chandu Pandit, Sadanand … even Bharath Reddy and Surinder Khanna. We did our best and got our chances. But yes, not much importance was given to wicketkeepers in those days and that’s true even now. So much

well, the whole team does well. Forget the Indian team, no association makes an effort to develop their wicketkeepers.

Let’s go back to the competition among all of you in the 1980s – did you feed off each other, how did you stay ahead of your competitors?

My foundation was strong and having played a lot, including four years with the India Under-19 team, I was in the eye line of the selectors. I needed to improve my batting.

Chandu Pandit was an outstanding batsman. I

‘There was a lot of competition among us – Chandu Pandit, Sadanand... even Bharath Reddy and Surinder Khanna. We did our best and got our chances.’ money is spent on developing batsmen, fast bowlers, spinners… but the heart of a team is the wicketkeeper. We need to spend more time and money on developing wicketkeepers. This is true all around the world. Look at the Indian team – you have a batting coach, a bowling coach and a fielding coach… nothing for the wicketkeeper.

Maybe because there is often only one wicketkeeper in the team?

Yes, but he plays such an important role.

There should be two wicketkeepers in all teams, but even otherwise, when a wicketkeeper does

think I had an edge over him because in those days they looked for wicketkeeper-batsmen and not batsman-wicketkeepers. My keeping, I shouldn’t say it myself … the selectors and senior players thought I was the best wicketkeeper.

The selectors had confidence in me. The confidence kept me going; it made me work harder and harder. I also started improving my batting – I got a hundred against Nirlon in my first match against them, and they had lots of Test cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar. I kept brilliantly too. The Mumbai media put out the word. In my case, the seniors and selectors thought I could handle pressure.

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KIRAN MORE

When Indian batsmen play overseas – in Australia and New Zealand, for example – and they struggle, we blame the conditions in India for not preparing them. How does it work for wicketkeepers?

I would say that English conditions are tough to keep in, but not Australia or New Zealand or South Africa. The bounce is true in those places so keeping is very easy. In England, the late swing kills you. Bounce and movement are fine – there it swings like a snake. But I think it’s toughest to keep wickets in the subcontinent.

There is a lot of spin, the ball keeps low, you need to wait for the ball and sometimes you get it on

the second bounce.

On the third day, the pitch becomes dusty … so many overseas keepers struggle in India.

CAPTAIN GLOVES “Dhoni is one of the best wicketkeepers India has ever had,” says More, adding that the manner in which the India skipper handles pressure is “outstanding”.

What about the wicketkeepers today – how would you rate them?

Parthiv (Patel), Dinesh Karthik, (Wriddhiman) Saha – all are outstanding. And Dhoni is there too, of course. We are lucky to have four wicketkeepers who can play for India any time. When I was selector, we were

‘TODAY’S KEEPERS ARE ALLROUNDERS’

struggling to find a good keeper and we had to get Rahul Dravid to keep wickets for one year.

That was sad. We started pushing for more keepers and all these guys came up.

I don’t know what will happen after them because keepers are focusing more on batting.

But we need to spend money to train keepers.

Need specialised coaching for young keepers.

Each state association must do that from the junior levels.

Dhoni is one of the best wicketkeepers India has ever had. He is an outstanding batsman of course, but he is one of the best keepers in the business today. The way he performs in crunch times – catches, brilliant stumpings… super run-outs. He is outstanding under pressure.

I get very shocked when people say he isn’t a good keeper. He has improved so much since we saw him first.

When you were chief selector, there was Greg Chappell around of course, what did you focus on when it came to domestic players?

We were looking five years ahead. We got four wicketkeepers, ten fast bowlers, 15 batsmen… we said we would create opportunities for everyone. We had great players in the team, so we knew that the Indian team wouldn’t struggle. We had to look ahead. And we had to create competition for the big stars. There were great performers in domestic cricket and we had to give them chances. When the team is strong, the next 20 cricketers don’t get a chance despite good

domestic performances. Their motivation goes down. We wanted to give them chances – there were injuries, so we could try more players. We had a pool of 25-30 players. They are still playing for India today.

Your tenure as chief selector was also a controversial one…

That will happen if you try to change the system. If a few results don’t go your way, you will be blamed for rocking the boat. But that was no problem. We can’t get it right all the time. There will be mistakes. Some people do well in domestic cricket but fail in internationals. We must share the blame.

The seniors in the team – Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul, (Anil) Kumble, Sourav (Ganguly) – all helped a lot as well. And now, the new selectors are doing a great job too.

Do you really think the Indian domestic cricketers have benefitted, apart from in terms of money, from playing the IPL and even the ICL? Yes, but we don’t need more domestic T20s.

We already have two months of IPL, which is helping because young players are getting a chance to interact with senior players, watching them; all teams have fantastic coaches. It will help Indian cricket in the long run. We have more and more players in the India A team... but, like Dravid said recently, we must play more Tests. Those who don’t value first-class cricket will struggle. T20 is only T20. You get honour and respect when you do well in firstclass cricket and Test cricket. ‡

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ONE MORE DAY OF SUMMER

By Saurabh Somani

T

he Ranji Trophy is India’s premier domestic competition. It has produced countless heroes and heroic performances. While, by the natural order of things, it is international cricket’s poor cousin, there are many Indian cricketers who have striven and continue to strive day after day and season after season, knowing that for the best part of their careers, that’s as high as they’ll get.

The grizzled veteran always makes for a good second lead, but he’s not going to be the star of the show. What, then, keeps these old hands going?

The last twelve years have been a time of great upheaval in the Ranji Trophy. The zonal system was abolished and teams were no longer bound by the geographical boundaries they were in earlier… competition became more even. Financial rewards have multiplied, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) significantly raising pay scales. Infrastructure changes have taken place at a pace more rapid than ever before in Indian cricket history, and the volume of international cricket has gone through the roof.

Ranji veterans, who have been around through these changes, have perhaps the best perspective on what drives them to turn

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DOMESTIC CRICKET VETERANS

up every year and compete with younger players, often knowing that an international career is off limits.

Shitanshu Kotak, who made his first-class debut in 1992-93 and will call it quits after this season’s opening game, boils it down to a simple, “You play because you love the game.”

As one of the stalwarts of the Saurashtra side, Kotak relished the responsibility that came with seniority too.

It’s a view echoed by Wasim Jaffer, Amol Muzumdar and Sunil Joshi – each a domestic cricket giant in his own right. Athletes are competitive by nature, and while rising to the top in the Ranji Trophy may not grab as many eyeballs as cracking an international century, it is no mean feat. With every third child in India willing to take up cricket, you need to be better than a vast majority to achieve consistent firstclass success.

The competitive juices that naturally flow for top athletes are also powerful motivators for the senior pros.

THE DRIVE Joshi (left) and Kotak, the two Ranji Trophy giants, agree that they have played for as long as they have purely out of love for the game.

Jaffer, currently the leading run-getter in Ranji history, says, “The competition drives you. If you play for Mumbai you have to be at the top of your game all the time. Obviously every season, Mumbai are expected to do well, so you’re always gearing up and looking forward to the season starting.”

And when you’re in the zone, warding off young Turks who may be eyeing your spot in the squad, there is no question of feeling jaded.

“I thoroughly enjoy that moment – getting physically fit for the season, mentally prepared, and working on my technical aspects. I just love all of that,” says Muzumdar. “You do feel jaded at times, but at that time the passion

ONE MORE DAY OF SUMMER

takes over, and you can overcome anything.”

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Doing the whole drill, season after season, might still get to players at times, but for those who’ve had long careers, the alternative isn’t palatable. These are men who, as Muzumdar puts it, have played cricket ever since they were “in their senses”. Letting go of a lifetime of doing one thing, and doing it exceedingly well, is amongst the hardest acts you can contemplate.

And the question of ‘what next’ also plays a part, if a peripheral one, in driving them on.

In the modern age, these cricketers have options open to them when they eventually hang up their boots, but nothing beats the thrill of bat or ball in hand. Sunil Joshi, who retired in 2012, has taken up coaching and is with the Hyderabad side. And yet, he still bowls from start to finish in the nets. Those who’ve seen Joshi bowl will even say that he still outfoxes most of his wards.

During the last two decades, being a cricketer has become a viable financial option even if you don’t make it internationally.

And this is not about a young player bagging a million-dollar IPL contract. With the increasing money flow into the game, the BCCI has ensured that the lot of domestic cricketers is better than before.

“Now, if a player plays for 15 years in first-class cricket, he may not be a millionaire, but he can look after his family,” says Kotak. “That has been great from BCCI’s side. I have never played for money, but any person will be benefitted if they get rewarded for their playing careers.”

Amol Muzumdar, the second highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy history, has the record of scoring the highest runs in an innings (260) for a first-class debutant. Since then, three other Indians – Anshuman Pandey, Manprit Juneja and Jiwanjot Singh – have scored double hundreds on debut.

You still face challenges as a domestic veteran: from a body that demands more care, from the natural disinclination to give a very long rope to a player nearer the end than the start of his career, and sometimes from the delicate balancing act in being a mentor to youngsters who could get opportunities you haven’t.

At the end of the day, though, the inherent love for the game wins out above all else and keeps the elder statesmen going. As Joshi says, when asked if there’s anything he’d like to see changed in the Ranji set-up, “I want to play Ranji Trophy. I don’t want to change anything, but I want to be playing.” ‡

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K BHASKAR PILLAI: THE NEARLY MAN

By Manoj Narayan

K

Bhaskar Pillai was one of the most consistent batsmen on the domestic circuit in the 1980s and early ’90s. Born in Trivandrum, Bhaskar played for Delhi and spent a large chunk of his career on the periphery of the national team. He averaged 70 in first-class cricket over a six-year period and was Indian Cricketer of the Year in 1989, but not once did he make the cut for the national side.

Currently the coach of Tripura, Bhaskar opened up to Wisden India about domestic cricket in his time.

You were born in Kerala but ended up playing for Delhi for 13 years. How did it

all happen?

I shifted at a young age, because my father was stationed in Delhi. There, I slowly began entering the cricket circles, and played under Tarak Sinha, who had produced so many cricketers. He saw the talent in me and sent me for the Under-19s when I was just a child.

But in my very first year, I did well.

How was it playing for Delhi in that era with so many big names around?

When I got into the team, we had players such as (Mohinder) Amarnath, Madan Lal, Rakesh Shukla and others. There were Kirti Azad, Surinder Khanna and Maninder Singh

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K BHASKAR PILLAI

NEW ROLE Pillai feels that he was meant to become a good coach because he is very good at error reduction and understands young players.

as well. Delhi cricket was really coming up.

As a youngster, there was so much to learn from these greats. It was a very good time to be a youngster in Delhi. Also, in the North Zone team, with Kapil paaji and others… when you’re among those greats, you need to justify your selection. That’s how I used to think, that I needed to be good enough to be part of the XI, because I was competing with them. At the same time, these guys had set such high standards that we had an urge to continue the legacy. From 1980 to 1994 was a golden era; Delhi had dethroned Bombay during that period.

What was your motivation, what drove you?

The idea was to play for India. Domestic cricket was where you’d actually perform, and get the nod from the selectors. But there was this belief that batsmen from Bombay were better. So most of my contemporaries from Bombay got the nod for India. I didn’t.

I was always considered an outsider because I belonged to the south and, even though I played for Delhi, they didn’t consider me a north Indian or a Delhiite. When I used to perform for Delhi, I would be picked for the

THE NEARLY MAN

zonal side, but never given a chance.

I remember once talking to Ravi (Shastri), and he was a huge friend. He made the mark for India and I was stuck playing Ranji Trophy, and sometimes even struggling to stay in the Ranji Trophy level. I was a mess. And Ravi once told me, during a Ranji Trophy game, “Boy, it’s nice to hear your name again, you’re really doing well.” But when the team was announced, I wasn’t in the XI. One year, I was in the XI for North Zone and I was asked to go at No. 3, but eventually

trying to get picked for the Indian side. In the end, I don’t really blame anyone for that.

Maybe I wasn’t destined to play for India.

Always on the periphery of the Test team... do you empathise with others who have been in similar situations, someone like Amol Muzumdar, for example?

It’s unfortunate. I’ve always spoken about two players – S Badrinath and Amol. I said to Amol: “Damn it, you must have done something wrong. After being a Bombay player, and after scoring so many thousands

‘I used to hope that one day, Sunny bhai would put his arms around my shoulder. Imagine the confidence I would have got.’

I ended up going in at No. 11. I was so upset I was in tears.

of runs, why the hell haven’t you been picked (for India) so far?”

That’s how it is. I remember the time Sunny bhai (Gavaskar) would walk around with Sanjay Manjrekar. I used to hope that one day, Sunny bhai would put his arm around my shoulder. Imagine the confidence I would have got. I always found Sunny bhai talking to Manjrekar, explaining to him how to do something… that’s how you make people comfortable. I’m sure he must have done it with Sachin (Tendulkar) or even (Vinod) Kambli. So it was again back to the grind of playing for Ranji Trophy, getting runs, again

Of course, it’s the same with Badri. I think he was really, really unfortunate even though he blossomed late. It’s how it all works.

Whether you are a player or coach, you need to be in the good books of the people who matter.

Do you have bouts of nostalgia about your playing days? Can you contrast that with the current scenario?

There were some great moments. I was once

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K BHASKAR PILLAI

hit on the left foot by a yorker from Venkatesh Prasad, and I remember the shoes that I was wearing hardly softened the blow. My nail had come off. But I went on to score a brilliant hundred, and there was a 104-run partnership with Maninder Singh. I remember that we had conceded the first-innings lead to South Zone, and Manoj (Prabhakar) said, “Just give me 200 runs on the board. Just give me that, and I’ll dismiss them in the second innings.”

Somehow, I managed to take the total to 240 and I said, “Manoj, I’ve done my job. Now it’s your turn.” And you know what he did? He helped bowl them out for 106. That day was something else. Me and Manoj, we go way back, we grew up together. Yes, there were some great moments.

You had a stint as coach of Rajasthan in 2007, and then Tripura. Do you derive more satisfaction from playing or coaching?

Coaching, I think. Right from my school days, I used to look at cricket as a collection of minute details. I could understand the nuances of the game, and I was mentally very strong. That’s probably what helped me out in my first stint as coach.

I’m very good at error reduction and correction, and also, because I played, I can understand youngsters, and tell them what sort of practice they should do. So probably, I was meant to become a good coach. It might also be because of the dissatisfaction of not playing for India. I find the coaching stints enjoyable. To watch some of the teams I coached, it makes me really happy. I can’t

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really say I’m a good coach. It would be nice if somebody else came and told me.

There’s also the monetary aspect of course… today it’s no more just a game; it’s more of a profession, especially with the IPL going around.

It’s a bit shocking actually. These days, some of the Under-19 boys have the goal of playing in the IPL. Many of the youngsters these days aren’t even dreaming of playing for India. Their ultimate goal happens to be the IPL. The money seems to be good enough for them. As a coach, one needs to understand these changes.

These days, you need to be a brilliant fielder first and for that you need to be exceptionally fit. And then, lastly and sadly, comes the technique aspect. As a coach, I need to understand that cricket itself has changed.

Power and speed have taken over. ‡

THE WANDERERS

By Sidhanta Patnaik

W

ith Clive Rice and Richard Hadlee joining them, Nottinghamshire became a force to reckon with in English county cricket in the 1970s.

Closer home, Vinoo Mankad’s services were much sought after in his heyday.

He represented eight domestic teams in 27 years, while Charlie Stayers’s match haul of nine wickets was a huge reason for Bombay winning the 1962-63 Ranji Trophy final.

Apart from adding balance to a team’s composition and bringing a bit of class to the unit, and therefore boosting its chances of success, the inspirational influence

of seasoned campaigners can never be overstressed. But unlike in, say, European football, a professional’s nomadic journey in Indian domestic cricket is not just about the search for glory – of the individual or the team – but a lot of different things.

It may be a state’s youth-centric policy, possibly ego clashes within the team, petty politics or the lack of respect for one another, the opaque communication channels… or just poor form that renders an individual redundant to a team’s needs. As long as any of these instances don’t occur and everyone is happy, usually, a player doesn’t go looking for a new state team. Two factors then come together – one, a team’s search for a cricketer,

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PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

ideally an experienced one, who fills a gap in the squad; and two, the cricketer’s search for team where he will feel valued.

Aakash Chopra explains the dilemmas that lead an experienced and respected cricketer to leave his state team, a strong one, and head elsewhere in his book, Out of the Blue.

He isn’t the only one to have experienced it, of course. Sridharan Sriram, who played for Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Assam and

SUCCESS IMPORT Himachal Pradesh Rajasthan’s Ranji before becoming conquests of 2010-11 a coach, found and 2011-12 (pictured) came on the back of himself away sterling performances from and then further Chopra and Kanitkar. away from Tamil Nadu, his home state, after spending his best years there. “I wanted to play in English leagues but with the Chennai league starting in July, it was not possible. At the same time, some very good

THE WANDERERS

youngsters were coming up in Tamil Nadu, so I thought I should move on and Maharashtra made me an offer,” he says.

For years, professional cricketers have profited from the fact that there is a distinct inequality in the demand and supply of talent in the smaller teams, while the opposite is true for the big teams, which represent the larger centres. However, three ‘hired’ cricketers – Chopra, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Rashmi Ranjan Parida – scripted, to a large extent, Rajasthan’s back-to-back titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12, after they finished at

knockout games of the 2010-11 campaign, acknowledges their role too. “Returning from injury, I was not confident, but Hrishi bhai gave me confidence, and immediately I felt calm,” he says. “As a person, he has that kind of an influence on the team. And Rashmi bhai’s experience was instrumental in our match-winning partnership in the final against Baroda.”

There are similar stories across the country.

While Parida has replaced Shiv Sundar Das, his former Orissa state-mate, at Vidarbha this season, Amol Muzumdar and Rajesh

For years, professional cricketers have profited from the fact that there is a distinct inequality in the demand and supply of talent in the smaller teams. the bottom of the plate division in 200910. It’s a template worth exploring, not as a retirement benefit scheme but as a means to achieve glory.

Pawar (Andhra), Dheeraj Jadhav (Assam) and Syed Abbas Ali (Tripura), among others, are all with teams one wouldn’t associate with them.

“I went to Rajasthan with an open mind and clean heart,” says Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Rajasthan’s captain. “The motive was to put into practice my years of learning. Aakash and Parida were of a great help and we three made a huge difference to the team’s fortune by eradicating the fear of failure.”

Ashok Menaria, who underwent a surgery before hitting centuries in all the

The flipside, of course, is that the presence of such domestic stalwarts often robs an upcoming cricketer of his place in the side. Kanitkar, however, disagrees with the suggestion. “We have a good bond in the team and nobody has ever made me feel that way,” he says. “Plus, I am always helping the boys improve and my performance has benefitted the team.”

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PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

The other criticism such professionals have usually faced is that they look for alternatives only when their home state stops giving them the time of the day. This leads to monetary as well as other problems for these cricketers.

Kanitkar disagrees with this notion too.

“Sportspersons look for a good environment to play and then think of the money,” he says. Sriram adds, “I was stagnating at one point of time, and I wanted to break the boundary and live out of my comfort zone. Moreover, the friends I have made are lifelong companions.”

Interestingly, it is not only veterans in the second half of their careers who have turned professionals. After failing to find a consistent pattern in his career with Hyderabad and Andhra, Ambati Rayudu took up the offer from Baroda and now has an India cap. Also, his 12 years of domestic cricket experience has lifted Baroda’s standards.

“He has a sharp cricketing brain, he has boosted our batting and has groomed our juniors well,” says Satyajit Parab, the manager of cricket operations at Baroda Cricket Association. “In the dressing room, he is a livewire, and has gelled really well with the others. We never feel that he has come from outside.”

Obviously, the pressure of being on the road has its challenges. “You are expected to deliver each time you walk out, which

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is fine but without the emotional support of family and friends around you for four months, it’s tough,” says Sriram. Kanitkar agrees to the loneliness part of the job, but feels that the trick lies in embracing the local influences, saying, “The only way to do justice to your role is to enjoy different cultures and people.”

The driveway to the Rose Bowl in Southampton is named after Roy Marshall and Malcolm Marshall, two West Indians whose heroics for Hampshire are well chronicled. In 2002, Eric Cantona, the Frenchman who became a Manchester United legend, was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Professionals in the Ranji Trophy have not yet made a timeless impression on the consciousness of their adopted states, but the future is always pregnant with possibilities. ‡

RAJINDER GOEL: THE ODD MAN OUT

By Saurabh Somani

R

ajinder Goel’s story evokes poignancy even in those who did not see him bowl. The highest wicket-taker in the history of the Ranji Trophy, Goel had a 27-year-long domestic career, but only played in unofficial Tests. He was born in an era when India was laden with spinning talent, and, as a left-arm spinner, he had to fight for a place with Bishan Singh Bedi.

He spoke to Wisden India on his career, showing a remarkable memory for exact figures and not a trace of bitterness over his lack of international opportunities.

What changes have you seen in the Ranji Trophy from the time you began playing

(1958) to the present?

There have been a great many changes. I started playing Ranji Trophy with Southern Punjab. At that time we used to get Rs five per day. Today, financially, cricketers are so much better off. When I played an unofficial Test against Sri Lanka in 1965, I got Rs 200 for the full Test. Against West Indies, I was in the reserves, and everyone got Rs 2,000. The grounds today are so much better. They are modern, and every association has its own ground. Earlier, if we dived on the ground, we had to spend a week in the hospital. Players stay in good hotels now. We used to take our beds with us for Ranji Trophy matches. Now everyone travels by air. The equipment is also

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RAJINDER GOEL

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the hall, and no one bothered. Today, if you take five wickets, the media lands up at your house. Today, a player takes 30-odd wickets in the Ranji Trophy and they are talked of as Test prospects. When I retired, I had taken 39 wickets in six matches. In my time, the media didn’t bother so much.

Do you think you would have had more international appearances if you were born in a different era?

Yes, I have said in an interview too that I should have been born later. When Kim Hughes’s team (Australia) came, I took nine wickets against them. Even then, I wasn’t

‘When sixes are hit, spinners get scared or are taken off. We used to never think that way.

Today, they are scared of flighting the ball.’ so good now – if the bat hits the ball well, it flies off. Pads are so much lighter. We had such heavy pads, and if they ever got water in them, it was difficult to walk.

In a celebrated career, you somehow never got to represent India.

The reason I never played an official international match was that the media wasn’t as active then. Today, you have called me up; when I was playing, I used to take five wickets or ten wickets and just come and sleep in

given a chance. They always preferred to have two offspinners in (Erapalli) Prasanna and (Srinivas) Venkatraghavan. Why not two leftarm spinners – both Bedi and me? They could have tried us together in a few matches. But I always played for the game. I always thought, if it’s in my destiny, I would play (for India), otherwise I would not. I really enjoyed playing.

Breaking VV Kumar’s record – do you remember the feeling?

Breaking a record always feels good. And

THE ODD MAN OUT

Trophy that much.

What do you feel about the spinners in the Ranji Trophy today?

Bishan had come to my place a few days ago and we spoke a lot about how ordinary the spinners are now, and the lack of control they have. Today, with the influence of limitedovers cricket also, spinners have reduced.

When sixes are hit, spinners get scared or are taken off. We used to never think that way; we bought wickets. Today, they are scared of flighting the ball.

Bedi’s presence, in a way, limited your opportunities. What was your equation with him like?

He is a great left-arm spinner, and the world will not see another like him. I was also a leftarm spinner, but I was different. He was really good, and had great control. He also had a great mind. He is a very good man, and was a good captain too. No praise is too high for him.

I went quite ahead of him. He had 417 wickets.

I took 640 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.

Do you think there’s any chance of your record being broken?

ONE WONDERS ‘They preferred to have two offspinners in Prasanna and Venkatraghavan,’ says Goel. ‘Why not two left-arm spinners – both Bedi and me?’

See, records are made to be broken. But I think it will be difficult for anyone to last that long. Today, after taking 50-60 wickets, you get into the Test side, so no one plays the Ranji

What do you think of the Ranji Trophy today? Has its profile gone down?

Yes, the Ranji Trophy’s prestige has reduced a bit. There are so many matches taking place (international and domestic) so it’s bound to happen. To raise the Ranji Trophy’s profile again, you should give weight to performances in it, and base selections on it. The true character of a player comes out in four-day or five-day matches. In 50-over or 20-over matches, there is no technique. ‡

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BENCH STRENGTH

By Kritika Naidu

F

or probably the first time ever, over the last two seasons, the India A side has been in the news almost as much as the India team. Tours are being scheduled, fixtures are being arranged with all and sundry, and more and more players are getting a feel of big-time cricket, or something quite close to it.

Obviously, the best way to knock on the doors of the selectors is by performing well and performing consistently. Then what? All those performances are at the domestic level, against opponents of the same standard. How about making it a little tougher? That’s where the India A team comes in. The side is almost

like a second-tier Indian team, just one notch below. In the past year or two, the team has travelled to South Africa, West Indies and New Zealand, and also hosted a number of teams at home. And what that’s done is, to some extent, prepare fringe players for the next step and also provide an avenue for down-ontheir-luck stars to get back in the reckoning – Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir, for instance, who ended the India A game against West Indies A at Hubli recently with a fivewicket haul and a century respectively.

Lalchand Rajput, coach of the India A team for a while now, accepted that the side served both functions. “It is a platform for players to get into the Indian team, plus if someone

BENCH STRENGTH

of the touring A team to New Zealand and are now a part of the Indian team, where Bhuvi is doing remarkably well. It is the same case with Ambati Rayudu; he had a very good A tour in New Zealand, in conditions where the ball was seaming. He had performed very well in South Africa and has now been picked in the main team too.”

Pujara is a shining example of someone who has made the most of the India A platform.

He has scored 1180 runs in 13 matches at an average of 65.55 since the promotion from the A team to the Indian Test side, but that has not suppressed his hunger for runs when playing for India A. Pujara scored his third triple-century in first-class cricket against West Indies A recently and has also been honing his captaincy skills in the process, leading players of the stature of Virender Sehwag, Gambhir and Zaheer.

isn’t doing well, he can come into the A team and regain his form and get back into the main team,” he said.

RETURN FEVER Yuvraj made a comeback into India’s limited-overs team on the back of some good performances for India A against West Indies A.

“Over the years, there have been a lot of players from India A who have performed well enough to get picked to play for the national team. For example, Cheteshwar Pujara, who went to the West Indies last year as the captain, performed exceptionally well and got into the Indian team. Then, Mohammad Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were a part

“When you constantly think of different dimensions, it helps you analyse the game better, and that experience has come in very handy when I’ve led India A on overseas tours,” observed Pujara. “Along the way, I’ve worked with different players across different teams, worked with different coaches. So, all these things matter.”

Elsewhere, Yuvraj Singh made a comeback into India’s limited-overs team on the back of some good performances for India A. Rajput felt that if Yuvraj had a good Ranji Trophy season, he could be back in the reckoning for Tests too.

“The fact that he has made a comeback after fighting cancer, getting fit and playing for India again, just shows his mental toughness and

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BENCH STRENGTH

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BALL MS Dhoni, the India captain, came into national prominence after scoring 362 runs in six innings at an average of 72.40, including back-to-back centuries for India A in the tri-nation one-day tournament in Nairobi in 2004. He made his ODI debut the same year, against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

In many ways, a strong A team is the perfect back-up for the senior team and Rajput acknowledged that. “The main team is strong only when the A team or the fringe players are strong,” he said. “We have a lot of talent for the future and the fringe players are very strong since there is a lot of competition. These players are provided with opportunities and are making the most of them. But the key here is to perform consistently.

“It’s not just about the A team. There are a lot of areas where Ranji standards have improved; we have better pitches, and better infrastructure.

The best way to ensure the standard keeps improving is to expose the players to better teams and the group system has ensured that.

The same format has been followed in England

‘The best way to ensure the standard keeps improving is to expose the players to better teams and the group system has ensured that.’ determination to play,” he said. “So, I’m sure he will make his way back to the Test team if he continues to perform consistently the way he is.”

as well, in county cricket. All of this has ensured better players being produced for India.”

Away from the big stars, there are also the likes of Manprit Juneja, KL Rahul, Baba Aparajith, Unmukt Chand, Parveez Rasool and others, who have been part of the India A setup for a while now and have made the most of the opportunities.

No team can be truly special unless a strong bench supports it. And there’s no better way to strengthen the bench than by throwing the second-tier players in at the deep end. That’s what the India A team has been doing rather well in recent times. One just hopes that it’s not a passing phase. ‡

VIJAY BHARADWAJ: THE LOCAL HERO

By Anand Vasu

T

he record books show that Vijay R Bharadwaj played three Tests and ten One-Day Internationals for India. They tell you that he scored 28 Test runs at an average of 9.33 and picked up only one wicket, that of Shayne O’ Connor, New Zealand’s No. 11. In ODIs, Bharadwaj was player of the series in Nairobi, a tournament in which he picked up ten wickets at 12.2 and scored 65 runs without being dismissed.

The record books are usually an excellent barometer of a player’s capabilities, but in Bharadwaj’s case, they lie. Or, at the very least, they conceal more than they reveal.

For a period of five years, it was Bharadwaj’s

wicket that was the most sought after when a team played against Karnataka, Rahul Dravid’s presence notwithstanding. In firstclass cricket, Bharadwaj cracked 14 hundreds and scored his 5553 runs at an average of 41.75.

He was Man of the Match in a Ranji final, and picked up 59 wickets including a career-best 6 for 24.

Bharadwaj was a demon in domestic cricket, a player who Kapil Dev once said was capable of running through any opposition.

At 38, Bharadwaj is able to retrospect on a career in cricket like few can, shedding light on what it takes to be a domestic legend and yet fall short at the international level.

Excerpts:

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VIJAY BHARADWAJ

For us, the biggest challenge was to be the sixth guy to get into the Indian team. There were already five guys from Karnataka in the team.

You look at someone like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has come from Ranchi, where there was no one to look up to.

That was a huge achievement. But, if there are too many people from your state in the Indian team, that will also put pressure on you.

DOMESTIC STAR

Unlike international cricket, the Ranji Trophy doesn’t offer a year-long calendar to a player looking to find his mark, says Bharadwaj.

How did this affect your own career?

For years, yours was the most coveted wicket in domestic cricket. What was that like?

If you look at the history of Karnataka cricket, we have always produced bowlers, from the great spinners, to medium pacers.

The exceptions to this are GR Viswanath and Rahul Dravid, who made it on the big stage as batsmen. Getting into the international circuit and playing for India is one thing. But staying there and performing is another. You need talent and performance, and also a slice of luck and the knack of being at the right place at the right time.

What was the challenge in front of you?

The moment the big guns left to play for India, we needed to have a second string that could deliver for Karnataka. We had players who could take up the mantle. I know you can’t fill the shoes of a Kumble or a Srinath, but we still had bowlers and batsmen who could get the job done. Our only aim was to keep the momentum going and win the Ranji Trophy.

Now we realise how important it is to get a team with the right kind of resources to win the Ranji Trophy.

What does winning the Ranji Trophy mean to a player?

It’s almost 14 years since we won last, in 1999.

We’ve come close once since, but winning the Ranji Trophy is not that easy. You can get into the Indian team on sheer performance, if you have one or two brilliant seasons, but to win the Ranji Trophy, you need a group effort. That’s when we were excited to perform. People were looking up to us to do well even when the Karnataka stars

THE LOCAL HERO

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BALL J Arun Kumar who thought Vijay Bharadwaj, with his long neck and long legs and spectacles, looked like an ostrich when he ran, gifted him the nickname of Pinga. Incidentally, Pinga is also a character in the popular penguinbased cartoon show, Pingu. were away playing for India. We knew we had to score those extra runs or pick up more wickets.

What was it that helped you lift your game?

When we started winning, we realised that we had the set-up to win. On the flip side, whenever the stars came back, they encouraged us and contributed a lot. We were always very keen for them to play, even if it was for a game or two. Playing on the domestic circuit, not merely scoring runs or taking wickets, but winning the Ranji Trophy, gave some of us the opportunity to claim a slot.

So winning the Ranji Trophy was as important as individual performances?

When we played, Duleep was a couple of games, hardly any India A tours … In the late

1990s, I played once in America, Rahul went to Kenya. So it was not as though these were major tours. If that were to be there, it would have been a huge help. In those days, the Ranji Trophy was so important because of this: you played Ranji, Duleep and then India. If you play for India A for a year, the smooth transition from domestic to international becomes easier.

When we played, you were brilliant in one domestic season, and suddenly found yourself in a Test match. By the time you realised what was happening there, you were out of the team.

Then you have to make a comeback, but there are no guarantees. When the India line-up has Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly … chances are you are going to be wandering around the domestic circuit. You had only eight games a year to showcase your talent.

There are different phases in a player’s career… the first is to seal a place in the domestic team, then aim to make it to the Indian team, then hold on to that place, or come back to domestic cricket and perform…

The first stage in a player’s domestic career is relatively easy. People don’t really know you, and even you are not too sure what’s going to happen. The challenges are relatively less. In the second phase, you take the most responsibility as one of the torchbearers of your team. That’s the phase that you have to learn to enjoy. If you take the pressure of being the main batsman or main bowler, you might crack. Every time you play, you have to perform. There is a very clear cut difference between domestic and international cricket – in the Ranji Trophy,

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VIJAY BHARADWAJ

there are a limited number of games, all played between November and January, and you have to be in peak form in that period. That decides your fate for the next 10 months, unlike international cricket. In international cricket, if you have a bad series, you can make runs in the next series and the previous series is forgotten.

The Indian team plays almost through the year.

In Ranji, you have to peak at exactly the right time. The pressure comes from the fact that there are limited opportunities. Our domestic scene is not like England where it goes on for six months. Our entire season is over in eight weeks or so.

Does domestic cricket really give you an idea of how good you are as a player?

ABSENT STARS With senior pros such as Srinath and Kumble playing for India, it fell upon players like Bharadwaj to take on greater responsibility in the state team.

When people look back at my career, they remember only 1999.

But, I was the highest run-getter in 1996 when we won the Ranji Trophy after 13 years. In 1997, I was the top scorer for Karnataka. In 1998, I got 900 runs with four or five hundreds. In 1999, after ten games, I was not out in seven or eight.

In Buchi Babu and Diamond Jubilee, I got five

THE LOCAL HERO

100s in five games. The preparation was such that you had to score runs in each game, not to stake a claim, but to prepare yourself for the Ranji season. My form from 1995 to 2000 was strong. Because I was getting runs, I never really faced failure.

In 1999, the season was brilliant because none of the big boys was there. It was about myself, J Arun Kumar and, to some extent, Sujith Somasundar. All of us made runs. I made 1300, JAK something like 900. My 1300 was not

is to score runs. People think if you score runs in Ranji Trophy, you will get picked by an IPL team, but that’s not always the case. If you look at those who get the best deals in the IPL, it is not as a result of brilliant performances in firstclass cricket, but rather because their game is suited to T20 cricket skill-wise. There are enough people who have scored 1000 runs in a season for whom there are no takers. People need to understand that and choose: do you want to be a T20 specialist or do you want to be a good overall cricketer first?

‘People need to understand and choose: do you want to be a T20 specialist or do you want to be a good overall cricketer first?’ because of one big score, but many hundreds.

People used to sleep when I went to bat, they took it as a default that I would score. It became a habit, but it was never easy because we played in different conditions. That was a huge experience, playing in different conditions, from Amritsar to Mumbai to Tirunelveli, and succeeding. But, at the end of the day, it was a domestic experience. But that was not enough to make it at the international level.

Today, young players might be tempted to overlook Ranji Trophy in favour of an IPL contract…

The biggest challenge in domestic cricket

You need to focus on playing for the state and the country. Playing for India is now happening through two routes: under-19, the easiest, and then IPL. Both are not going to help in the long run. When you play four-day cricket for three or four years, you take in a variety of experiences and you learn about the game and about yourself. Only when you excel in four-day cricket can you adapt successfully to all the other formats. Handling pressure, in front of a 40,000-strong crowd, with millions of people watching, you can be broken if you don’t perform in a couple of matches. You’re out and then you ask yourself whether you belong or not. The climb up different levels should be at a sensible pace and well planned. ‡

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BAHUTULE AND THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

By Disha Shetty

S

airaj Bahutule played only two Tests and eight ODIs for India, but, in a first-class career spanning 21 years, he picked up 630 wickets with 27 five-wicket hauls and scored over 6000 runs, including nine centuries. He was also a part of six Mumbai teams that won the Ranji Trophy, the icing on the cake coming in 2003-04 when he led Mumbai to the title. Bahutule, 40, who played his last game for Mumbai in 2008-09, also played for Maharashtra, Assam, Andhra and Vidarbha, before retiring in January 2013. He talked to Wisden India about his career and the legacy of Mumbai cricket, among other things. Excerpts:

How would you sum up your domestic career?

It has been a very long journey. I’ve enjoyed the way I have played in these 21 years. It has been very fulfilling and I have no regrets as I have worked very hard to give my best.

You featured in six Ranji Trophy victories as a part of the Mumbai team in a 15-year period. How did the side change in those years?

Mumbai have always been lucky with players. When I had started off, there was (Dilip) Vengsarkar; he was on the verge of retiring. Then we had Sanjay Manjrekar,

BAHUTULE AND THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

Sachin (Tendulkar) and Vinod (Kambli).

Sachin and I had started cricket from the Under-15s; seeing him improve and eventually wear the India cap was inspiring. Playing under Ravi Shastri too was very motivating.

Most of the players who used to play for India would come into the dressing room and share ideas. That made us set goals that someday even we would represent India. Performing consistently over the years has been a result of that. I even captained Mumbai once and used to bat in whatever capacity I could, but I did get runs in tough times. It was a great honour to be a part of the Mumbai culture, and to be associated with six wins is always special. The future is also good, as there are a lot of talented players.

You’ve been a part of four other teams apart from Mumbai. What drove you to switch teams so often?

THE LEGGIE “I’ve enjoyed the way I have played in these 21 years; it has been very fulfilling and I have no regrets,” says Bahutule.

I had reached a stage in my life where I had to take a professional decision, and there were personal reasons also. The offers were lucrative and, coming from a middle-class family, I had to think about the future; with my kids growing up, I had to raise money. Professional cricket had just started and I took the opportunity. And obviously, a younger player would have got a chance (in the Mumbai side). Anyway, in a couple of years time, they (Mumbai) would

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have started nagging me, probably wanting a younger player, so I made it easier and moved on. It was not an easy decision, but I had to take that call. And each year I was lucky to get associations who were interested in me, who wanted me as a player and captain. With my experience, they wanted their youngsters also to grow, which helped me excel as a player and eventually as a coach.

How is the experience with an established team like Mumbai different from the smaller sides?

The Mumbai team plays like a unit and have the habit of winning. The developing sides are still searching for success. That’s where I come in and share my experience with them. It’s good to see certain players perform well at the higher

But the attitude of the Mumbai team and the way we executed our plans helped a lot.

How is the role of an allrounder in a strong side such as Mumbai different from that in a developing side?

I remember a year with Mumbai where I used to bat at No. 7 – the top order hadn’t performed the way it should have, and Ramesh (Powar) and I consistently got runs lower down the order. That is what Mumbai cricket teaches you, to be tough and handle the situation in such a way that you take it to the opposition and make it difficult for them to get into the match. Whereas when you are playing for a developing team, you know that they are completely dependent on you. If you perform, they perform and if you fail, they fail.

‘Mumbai cricket teaches you to be tough and handle the situation in such a way that you take it to the opposition and make it difficult for them to get into the match.’ level, and the teams also doing well. Mumbai has always been lucky with skilled boys, but in the developing teams that I’ve played for, the skill level is only with a few players.

What have been the challenges for you as a spinner on the domestic circuit?

In India, batsmen play spin very well, so every spinner here is challenged. Even I was.

You’ve played club cricket in England for 14 years. How has that experience helped?

I’ve played Premier Division League cricket, which is a level below county cricket.

It helped me change as a person as I started taking the game more professionally. Ravi Shastri had advised me that if I worked hard in England, I would be able to perform well when the domestic season started here. There

QUIZ 1

By Dileep V

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

The top of the Ranji Trophy resembles what other iconic image from a different ground?

Two players who played in the first ever Ranji trophy match in 1934 between Madras and Mysore at Chennai, have had trophies named after them. Name them.

3

Which England player scored an unbeaten 249 for Holkar against Mumbai in the fourth innings of the Ranji final in 1944-45?

This player was on the verge of breaking Sir Don Bradman’s then record score of 452 in first-class cricket, when the opposition team decided to concede the match. Name this batsman whose 443* is still the highest score by an Indian in first-class cricket.

5 7 9

Which team broke Mumbai’s dominance of winning 15 consecutive Ranji trophy titles on the trot in 1973-74?

Only two bowlers have taken all 10 wickets in an innings in Ranji history. Who are they?

To counter the left-arm spin of which bowler did Sunil Gavaskar play left handed in the semifinal of the 1981-82 Ranji season?

Name the only player to have scored a hundred on debut in Ranji, Duleep and Irani trophies?

What batting record in first-class cricket did Rajeev Nayyar of Himachal Pradesh set enroute to his 271 against J&K in the 1999-00 season?

Whose record of most career centuries in Ranji trophies did Wasim Jaffer overtake last year?

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SAIRAJ BAHUTULE

wasn’t much cricket happening in India due to the monsoon, so it was good to play matches during the weekend and train hard throughout the week. Those years were very crucial for me as a person also. Living on your own, you start being self-sufficient and it builds your character.

How would you assess the current domestic scenario?

The BCCI working committee is doing a fantastic job. Eight league games and the knockouts for Ranji Trophy gives bowlers and batsmen equal chances to perform and stake a claim in the national team.

What should be done to develop more quality spinners in domestic cricket?

A lot of faith has to be invested in the young crop. Over the years I’ve seen that, in some of the states, spinners are considered containing bowlers. These days, the spinners are not too attacking and just bowl to contain the batsmen in the middle overs before the medium pacers are back. So I feel more faith should be given and they should be more attacking.

You’ve played under Darren Holder, an Australian coach, in Maharashtra. What’s your take on foreign coaches?

The concept is good, but only to a certain extent. Eventually the communication between the players and the coach is very important. If a player is Maharashtrian, his

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BALL When Tendulkar and Kambli shared a record 664-run partnership in a Harris Shield semifinal, Bahutule, playing for St. Xaviers High School, returned match figures of 27-0-182-0. But he has been victorious in all the six Ranji Trophy final appearances he’s made, from the first one in 199394 against Bengal to the last one against UP in 2008-09.

English skills might be limited; it makes it difficult for him because the language he thinks in is different from the one he has to speak. And I think we have enough former domestic and international players getting into coaching. They should definitely stand a better chance.

I’m very happy to see Sanjay Bangar as the India A coach, and his team has also done well recently. So BCCI should have faith in our set of players who have vast experience. In IPL, we have foreign coaches anyway for each team, but when you have the Big Bash and other leagues, we don’t see an Indian coach.

That’s a huge difference. If we are calling coaches, we should also get an opportunity to go there and coach. ‡

QUIZ 1 3 5

ANSWERS

Father Time, similar to the one on the weather vane at Lord’s MJ Gopalan and Safi Darashah

2

BB Nimbalkar

4

Denis Compton

Karnataka Premangsu Chatterjee (Bengal) and Pradeep Sunderam (Rajasthan)

7 9

Raghuram Bhat Sachin Tendulkar At 1,015 minutes registered the longest individual innings by minutes in first-class history Ajay Sharma

6 8 10

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