The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : My style would have suited Twenty20, says Srikkanth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

My style would have suited Twenty20, says Srikkanth

S. Dinakar

— Photo: K. Pichumani

K. Srikkanth.

Chennai: It’s a quiet afternoon at Chepauk but Krishnamachari Srikkanth can still hear the roar; the chants for sixes and the shouts of appreciation. He recalls the packed arena, recollects his triumphs, talks about the rush of adrenalin whenever he played at ‘home.’ The pitch at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, he says, is his soul.

Srikkanth still turns towards his favourite ‘D’ stand. “This is where I received maximum support,” he remembers. Memories keep gushing back for a man who sniffed, walked and gave the ball a thump.

He would have been a big hit in Twenty20. “Yes, my style would have suited Twenty20 cricket. But there were several stroke-makers from my time who would have excelled in Twenty20. Cricket has evolved and we have to move with the changes,” says the former India captain.

The brand ambassador for Chennai Super Kings, he enjoys “connecting to the people again.”

But, naturally

He is not surprised at the pace of run-getting in the Indian Premier League. Twenty20 cricket, he believes, will increase the rate of scoring in the ODIs. “The scoring in Tests became faster because of the influence of the ODIs. Twenty20 will quicken the run-rate in the ODIs. There was a time in my period when a score of 225 was defendable in a one-dayer. Then a total between 250 and 275 was considered safe. Then it became 300. So the bar is being constantly raised.”

Hard on bowlers

Srikkanth concedes the bowlers are being marginalised in the Twenty20 format. Playing these matches on surfaces assisting the bowlers a touch would make the contests more even, he says.

The former opener is thrilled at the success of the IPL so far and calls it “Cricketainment.”

But, the growth of Twenty20 should be monitored, he warns. “A separate period should be earmarked for Twenty20. It should be cricket during summer time.”

Close-knit team

He switches his attention to the Chennai Super Kings’ good run in the competition and highlights the bonding in the team. “Matthew Hayden was leaving for Australia from Bangalore in the afternoon. He stayed awake and came down to the lobby of the team hotel early in the morning to wish the rest of the side that was departing for Chennai luck. He even walked up to the team bus. It was touching.”

Srikkanth heaps praise on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy. “A good captain is one who takes up responsibility and he does that all the time. He is cool under pressure and is transparent.”

Srikkanth marvels at the performances of bowling legends, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan in the tournament - “In this competition, you have seen the difference between the good and the great.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport