Chennai’s most beloved ‘Thala’ can’t wait for CSK to play its first match in Chepauk when IPL 11 comes calling
How do you train the youngsters to prepare for a league like the India Cements Ltd TNPL?
Ans: Now that this is the second season of the league, last season they’d have got a glimpse of what they will encounter. I do not see the TNPL as a district league. The franchise format is that of districts, but the best of players of Tamil Nadu play together under circumstances that are very different, in front of people who are coming to watch cricket. Last year, all the games got a lot of attendance. Cricket will remain the same, but the pressure of playing in front of people, in front of home crowd and away crowd will change. They now know the challenges and a lot of players would have prepared according to the demands of the game. That is why I feel this season will be even more interesting and the kind of buzz that was created last season will increase. So overall the players will be ready. How they prepare is simply by concentrating on cricket, you concentrate on the game, you look at the strengths and weaknesses and as a bowler, you need to concentrate on the variations. Once you have played one season, automatically your game improves the next season. Most of the players want to play for the higher levels and so this is the platform where they can perform and where they can showcase their talents.
How do you keep yourself fit?
Ans: Fitness is a major part of any sport today whether it is skill-oriented or endurance-oriented sport. It is the food that is more important than the training; so if you have right kind of food and supplement it with the training, you can get much more out of yourself, both in the physical and mental aspects. Enjoying life is important, but as an athlete you need to know what are the things that you cannot do that your brother or sister can. Food intake is the main thing apart from training. These days, the players get educated about what they need to do. Most of the players learn from the seniors and there will be physios to assist you. There is a lot of guidance by fellow cricketers and that is why I feel even in TNPL when lot of players would have gone back to their respective districts, they would have done a lot of fitness work to realise their fitness needs to be at par.
Chennai Super Kings is coming back. What does that mean to the Indian Premier League?
Ans: CSK has the biggest fan following. In the last two years, we were not there but the way the fans supported us, it was like they were waiting for CSK to come back. There was a Test match in the middle, but we haven’t played any limited-overs cricket here. So I feel there is a lot of buzz when it comes to the fans over here. A lot of fans are waiting for the team to come and play at Chepauk. Today, at the opening ceremony, we may get a glimpse of that. This is the first time I am coming back to the ground after two years, so I think it will be pretty interesting.
What are your fond memories of CSK?
Ans: I can’t put it so simply because it is eight years, season after season, not only in the IPL, but we played the Champions League also. We had a spree where we were winning a lot of games at home and we had a time when we weren’t winning many games at home. We have seen the ups and downs, but what is remarkable has been the support of the fans over here. They love their cricket, irrespective of which team is playing or who has scored runs. They appreciate the game. Yes, they want CSK to win and if India is playing, they want India to win but overall they have always appreciated good cricket and that is why it is so different. For me to pick one or two instances saying these are my favourite instances will be tough. Overall when we are down and we needed the crowd support, it was always there. Even in games where opponents needed two runs to win in four balls, the crowd support was amazing. Overall, we had a very pleasant eight years with the team and hopefully it will go on for another eight years and more.
What is your secret to play under pressure?
Ans: To keep it simple, it is important not to think about the result and do not think what if we lose the game. We shouldn’t think too much ahead of time and just concentrate on the process. If you are defending a score, think about which bowler can be used and what will be the field placements. When you are constantly thinking of all these things, you don’t think about the results. So there is less pressure and you are trying to make sure that the process is more important. You are looking at how you can alter the course of the game and that in turn will help me get the desired results. That is how I keep myself calmer under pressure and practise is something that gives you the confidence as to what needs to be done under pressure. You may not win ten out of ten games, but when you practise the right way and you have been in these type of situations for a period of time, you know how to get out of it.
