The Goan: How has cricket changed for the country after the iconic 1983 World Cup win? Talk to us through the triumph.
Mohinder Amaranth: I think before that (1983 World Cup title win), we were playing and doing well. It was not that we did not have players, or that we had not performed. The thing was different in those days. We were not winning anything big. So probably the ’83 triumph was the start. Then it was self-belief among players, that for the future, they can achieve something bigger. It was the beginning of something big for Indian cricket.
TG: When India were dismissed rather cheaply in the World Cup ’83 final against the Windies at Lords, what was the pep talk halfway through the match?
MA: The game is not over till the last ball is bowled. The score does not matter. We were in the final. We had beaten the best of the teams in the competition to get there. We were carrying the same confidence that the West Indies carried. We played against them earlier (beaten them too!) and knew that if we had an early breakthrough, probably we can do something different.
TG: How did the transition come through in your batting “ from a suspect to short-pitched stuff to be acknowledged as the finest player against pace of your time?
MA: I think lot of people doubt their own abilities, but as a cricketer, you know how good you are. You always have to take criticism with a pinch of salt, in a positive way. You do not take it negatively. Probably, someone sees something and may be feels he wants you to do well. So criticism also helps. People doubted my abilities. So I started working even harder to overcome those shortcomings. It is all about hard-work, discipline, achieving and proving people wrong. You can only do it on the field, not by talking.
TG: Would you say the introduction of the helmet played a crucial facet in changing your approach towards fast bowling?
MA: It was still the same when I was playing without helmet too. I was doing the same. Those days the helmets had side padding; there was a plastic cap that only protected the skull, nothing in front. It was giving a little extra confidence that even if you get hit, you won’t get hurt.
TG: You have faced the most menacing fast bowlers in your day and never gave them an inch taking the opposition with blood, sweat and valour. Tell us about it …
MA: It is always a challenge to face all those quickies. I think cricket was a bit different those days. There was no restriction on short-pitched deliveries or bouncers. All teams had quality pace bowlers, if West Indies had four, the others had two. Australia, Pakistan, England, New Zealand all had quality fast bowlers. When you are playing a quick, it is like facing a heavy-weight boxer in a ring, you cannot run out of that. The only way to tackle and overpower that thing is to be more aggressive with your approach. I think attack is the best form of defense. When you attack somebody and he is not expecting it, the whole approach changes. I think I played cricket in a very positive way.
TG: Any particular bloody duel that you have overcome and won that you would like to recount?
MA: I think it was there all the time, especially playing the West Indies fast bowlers -- Malcolm Marshall or Joel Garner or Andy Roberts or Michael Holding or Wayne Daniel. They won’t give up. Their main weapon was to dislodge the batsmen. Even if you are batting on a 100, you can still expect something to come and you won’t even see the ball. I remember playing a game in Trinidad, I was batting on a 100 and Marshall bowled me a ball. It just pitched, hit my helmet, and went over the keeper for four leg byes. I think the quality was there. Pace bowling is not only about how quick the ball reaches the keeper, it is about how quick it is in the air also and the control the fast bowler has. Definitely, the quality of fast bowlers was much superior then to what you see nowadays.
TG: How would you review India’s performance in the recent away Test series in England?
MA: It has happened before. It is is not the first time that we lost there (England). The conditions are difficult and demanding. It is not difficult to tackle a guy like Anderson where the ball is doing something in the wicket. It was a tough tour. The results were very poor. But if you see the Test matches, I think it was closely fought. The fact that the bowlers bowled out the opposition side was a good sign. They were lacking in application of their batsmen. Kohli adjusted himself beautifully. The others were not contributing as much as Virat who was contributing. If 2-3 players start contributing, the future results will be much better.
TG: Your thoughts on the current crop of Indian cricketers …
MA: I think it is a good, young team which is still learning and with time, it will learn to win outside the sub-continent conditions. They are lacking in technique -- still learning and that will only come with individual hard-work.
TG: You had called the selectors a bunch of selectors in your time. Does the same yardstick hold true to this day?
MA: I won’t live in the past. It is all gone and forgotten (heartily laughs). I would definitely like to see experienced players take up any job when it comes to cricket, not only that of a selector. He should be an achiever doing a job, and only then results will be different.
TG: How do you stay connected to the game?
MA: Like everybody else, just watching cricket on TV. I don’t run for any job, I am not desperate for it. If someone wants my experience to be shared, the call should come from them, rather than I apply.
TG: You have been a master of comebacks to the Indian team. This year the Goa senior side is without a couple of their seasoned players from their set-up. What would you be your advice for them to fight their way back into the team?
MA: This is one game that always has a new challenge for everybody. You have to keep working on whatever you are doing. You are doing something that is why you are not there. You are lacking in some technique. One should not give up. One should keep trying, and once you keep trying you can achieve your goals.
