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Sunil Joshi to play in IPL

Vijay Lokapally

— FILE Photo

Sunil Joshi.

NEW DELHI: He was one of those small-town dreamers to make it big in cricket. For Sunil Joshi, those train rides from Gadag to Hubli remain some of the most memorable phases of his life.

For seven years Joshi would wake up at 3.30, to take the 4 a.m. train to Hubli, 70 kilometres away. At 6.30, he would change into his cricket gear and practise until 9.30, to take a bus back to Gadag. A quick bath and he was off to school.

“I enjoyed that routine. It made me a mentally tough cricketer,” said the former India left-arm spinner.

Now 37, Joshi continues to be an active player. His tally for Karnataka in the just-concluded season was 35, the highest for a spinner in the country, just five short of State-mate and medium-pacer R. Vinay, who took the top spot.

In times when much is made of small-town players shining in cricket, Joshi is a shining example. Gadag was known as a cotton collection sleepy town, with one bank and one theatre, famous for its Veera Narayana Temple, and the legendary Bhimsen Joshi. There was no cricket facility but Joshi pursued the game with passion.

Abrupt halt

The left-arm spinner, who could also bat well, played 15 Tests and 69 One-Day Internationals, before his career came to an abrupt halt in 2001. He did not give up, continued to play first-class cricket, and at an age when most cricketers retire, Joshi has landed a contract to play in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers.

“I am actually at the peak of my career. I am still as fit as I ever was. I have nothing against this policy of promoting fresh legs, but then there should be a place for those who perform to stay in the team,” said Joshi, who crossed the 300 first class-wicket mark in 2005 and is now just one short of 400.

“I am not playing for money. I am enjoying my cricket and that is what keeps me going. The day I realise I am blocking a youngster’s place, I will quit,” said the Karnataka all-rounder, who is a manager with the Canara Bank in Bangalore.

“I owe a lot to the Bank. They have always supported me,” added Joshi.

Coveted moment

Joshi’s coveted moment in cricket was his spell of 10-6-6-5 against South Africa in the LG Cup at Nairobi in 1999-2000 and the worst was bowling just one over for India Seniors in the Challenger Cup the same season. He bowled the 49th over in the first match and the 45th, 47th and 49th in the next.

Joshi is excited about the prospects of playing in the IPL with some as young as 17.

“Getting the IPL contract is a recognition for my cricket. You can’t call me old. See my fitness when I bowl in the Twenty20,” he said with pride.

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