Fast bowling never had a lot of exponents in India, though now we have a whole pack of talented pacers. What inspired you to take up fast bowling?
Bowling fast for Team India is nice and I think whoever is good and in form plays. I just work hard and not think about anything.
All I think is that I have to play 
for my country for 10 years and do well. Fast bowling came naturally to me because of my lean body.
Unlike guys who concentrate on batting, I concentrated on bowling. Is physical intimidation necessary to be successful as a fast bowler?
When I started playing cricket, my height and lean physique helped.
But now I just think about bowling fast. I stick to my strength and don’t try too many things. I just concentrate on how to bowl at the right areas.
And if you believe in yourself, you can do what you want.
Your bowling tormented the best of Aussie batsmen, most famously Ricky Ponting. What was the secret behind your impact?
I just focussed on accuracy and speed. If your bowling is 140+ andlands at the right places, it’s pretty good and trust me it’s not that easy.
And if you bowl at that speed in the right direction, that does the job. We don’t target certain batsmen.
We bowl to the batsman’s weakness.
I remember, Sachin telling me that if you bowl in the right areas for four overs, then you could mean trouble for Ponting.
I did that and it worked.
For a bowler, how different is the mindset in a test match as compared to an ODI or a T20 match?
In a Test match, you have things to come back to. But ODIs or T20s have nothing much for the bowlers.
If you look at the scoreboard, it says 40 runs in four overs!
Who are your favourite bowlers in the Indian side?
Bowling completely depends on rhythm and a bit of luck.
I think Sreeshanth, Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan are all great… You’re being diplomatic...
Am I? (grins) I admire McGrath and Munaf Patel is my favourite Indian bowler.
How has your experience been in the IPL with the Kolkata Knight Riders? How’s Shah Rukh Khan been as an owner? Shah Rukh is a very nice guy.
Plus, playing for the Knight Riders is great and playing alongside Ponting and Ganguly is even better.
Shoaib Akhtar had mentioned that you should be groomed and nurtured and protected from injuries. Are there any special fitness measures that you take as a fast bowler? ?
No, I don’t take any specific measures. We have a physiotherapist who keeps a check on our bodies. Our trainer then helps us work on those areas.
Training a lot strengthens our bodies and that’s the most important thing which really helps.
The Aussies and South Africans are naturally fit and broad but I am happy with what I am.
Which other fast bowlers do you admire or have modelled yourself after?
When I started playing, everyone was very helpful in the Delhi team.
But I really admire Glenn McGrath. He has also done really well in the IPL.
His body language is perfect and he is forever hitting the right areas.
Whatever he wants to do, he can do it.
If he wants to bowl a yorker, a full ball or a bouncer, he would do it.
It might look easy but it’s not an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of practice to do that and that’s the greatness of McGrath.
People say that you were always a naughty and hyperactive child. How much of that has gone to shape your fast bowling temperament?
Yeah, I’m naughty! (laughs).
I am just 19 and at this age everyone is naughty!
I just like to enjoy life and hang out with my friends. Aggression is fine in cases when someone says something to you on the field and you don’t just listen... but otherwise, it can also be bad.
Considering that, your comments on Sreesanth- Bhajji fiasco...
Sreeshant and Bhajji are in the end playing for the same country and will continue to have fun and be friends.
They might have had something between them.
I think the media reacts too much about all this.
You were a part of a tour (Australia) where the phrase ‘spirit of cricket’ came up for discussion quite a lot. Do you think the ‘spirit of cricket’ is relevant or necessary today?
You can’t enjoy your game if you can’t give your 100 percent… that is called playing in the true spirit.
In the Indian side everyone knows that spirit, especially when we wear the country’s cap. And so it is very relevant.
You have a good height and an athletic build. Did you not ever consider taking up any other sport? Or had cricket been the first choice always? I had started playing cricket after my Xth class board exams.
Before that, I played cricket only for passing time with those childish rules like ‘one-tip-one-hand out’ etc.
But after Xth I joined the club and it was there that I was told that I could do well if I concentrated on the game.
I liked bowling fast so I started concentrating on my bowling.
You have played with Kumble, Ganguly and Dhoni as captains. Who do you admire the most as a captain?
You know all of them have something special. For example, Dhoni maintains good communication with all the players and Kumble and Ganguly have their own ways of captaincy.
So they all are good.
I think good communication between a captain and the players is very necessary to make a good team.
You are only 19 and have achieved a lot. What have you planned for yourself?
I have always been in my own world. I just love whatever I do and I love to enjoy life.
I don’t have too many expectations from myself because then I’ll put too much pressure on myself.
I like spending time with my family... which I don’t get to do these days.
When I go back home, I usually spend most of my time catching up with my friends, which really angers my mom (laughs).
So my life is like any other 19-year-old’s and I like having fun the way any 19-year-old would!
IIPM Arindam Chaudhuri 4Ps Business & Marketing Business & Economy Kkoooljobs Planman Media Planman Consulting Planman Marcom Planman Technologies Planman Financial
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