BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
PANAJI
From the time he struck the imagination of the public through cricket, S Sreesanth, the banned Kerala speedster who played for country with fierce passion and volatility continues to wear his heart on his sleeve with pride and élan through Reality TV.
With time, the former India cricketer’s gradual rise came to an abruptly grinding halt when his name was embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal that left him in the wilderness almost six years since. Not one to lose hope to play the game, he still endears the most while living in the moment, and he took the opportunity to reconnect with his fans in a media interaction in Miramar on Monday.
In the course of a vibrantly positive, at times light-hearted half an hour session, Sreesanth took the road down the memory lane and his fond memories, from playing cricket in Goa to nursing a burning ambition for a comeback at the earliest. Cherishing special memories as an age-group cricketer in Goa, he fondly recounts, “My first trip to Goa was at the U-19 level when Kerala took on Goa in Panaji, a game I did not play. However, I was not selected in the U-22 side which was to play in Goa. I returned home with my team-mate Mohsin Nathani (who was also not selected) and on the bus ride back to Kerala we vowed that we will make it to the senior side. Subsequently, I was picked in the Ranji squad and when I look back I feel that dejection in Goa was what motivated me to do better.”
Not one to throw in the towel, Sreesanth has his hopes raised on playing competitive cricket soon. “I am just waiting for the (BCCI) ban to get lifted. Hopefully, end-January I will get the verdict. If it is very positive, I will look forward to playing T20s for Kerala. If not, then life goes on and I have to still keep fighting for the better day,” a positive-minded cricketer-turned actor stated.
Though he may be doing well for himself in the film and entertainment industry in the meanwhile as cricket has been stopped, he hasn’t been totally in the cold from the game. “I was fortunate that Sachiin Joshi, who is more like a brother, gave me an opportunity to coach his team for the Celebrity League. When Telegu Warriors played CCL, we won three years in a row. Dilip Bandodkar was the Head Coach and it was a great experience with the side,” Sreesanth recalled.
On India’s chances at the World Cup in the English summer, he expressed full confidence that India will bring the silverware back home. “India is surely going to win the 2019 world Cup as we are the best team. If you take 30 probables for the India team, all are match winners with there being a healthy competition within.” Sreesanth went a little bull-headed to add that even the A or B India side could defeat any team. Predicting an India versus Pakistan final, he picks out South Africa and Australia as the other two sides to make it to the last four stage.
The former India pacer once famous for his lethal outswingers, felt the difference between the faster bowlers of his era to that of today was their exposure. “When I played, most of the India pacers produced like Srinath bhai, Venkatesh Prasad, T Kumaran, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel and myself were part of the MRF Pace Foundation where we had the likes of TA Sekhar and Dennis Lillee to mentor us. Now, apart from the NCA, there are Zonal academies and thanks to the IPL they get to mix with the best even if they do not make it to any team, they at least get to bowl at the nets, apart from batting,” he said.
With Goa opening doors this season to professionals even without prior Ranji experience, it would not be imperative to think that Sreesanth could get a golden opportunity to switch allegiance to Goa, if his ban is revoked. “I would be more than happy to play for Goa because I love the game and the State. I would not take any extra money as a professional player,” he declared.
