Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Different STROKES
|
Indian cricketers often come across as the flashy types. With corporate giants chasing them with tonnes of cash, they need to appear trendy all the time. And many put on a mask for the outside world. But former pace ace Javagal Srinath is different, as K.PRADEEP finds out
|
JAVAGAL SRINATH is a hard core Kishore Kumar fan. Strangely though this former Indian speedster's favourite choices are not those fast, racy numbers of this great singer. He is more fascinated by those haunting melodies, which for him is still the best. And his favourite, `Ruk jana nahin... .,' that velvety, immortal number from `Imtihaan.' "The first time I listened to this song was during a school trip. It created a big impact on my mind. Whenever I listen to this song it transports me back to my childhood days. Later on, this song somehow acted as a sort of motivation when you are not doing well. The meaning of the song itself is `Don't stop when you lose.' I like this song of my favourite singer a lot."
Did this song not motivate or inspire him when he contemplated quitting the game he loved? "I knew this was coming. The song is nice and surely inspiring when you are actually playing. It applies only then. You need support from every quarter when you are playing. Even a song, or lines from a song, can inspire. But not otherwise," Srinath answers, with that broad grin.
During his active playing days, Srinath came forth as an introvert, focussed on his job on the field. He was never flashy in his demeanour and rarely dressed up gaudily. It is hardly a month since he decided to hang up his boots and Srinath has quickly slipped into the role of an efficient ambassador for ESPN-Star Sports. The manner in which he interacted with school children, answering their queries, correcting their bowling styles and urging them to watch cricket telecasts more carefully, showed a different side to this tall, graceful, fast bowler. "There may be many players who could deliver the goods on the field even when they could laugh, crack jokes and move around quite casually. But for me the job was cut out. I had to work hard and personally results could not be achieved if I lagged. Maybe, it finally boils down to human nature, which can be so diametrically different."
Pic. by Johney Thomas
Even during his active playing days, when he took over the mantle from Kapil Dev as India's bowling spearhead, Srinath was never an advertiser's delight. "Cricket is and will always be a batsman's game. So obviously, it does not mean that you are deprived of anything. After all you do play cricket with an eye on what advertisements rake in for you. One does not choose a department in the game, batting or bowling, depending on advertisement potential and the money one could garner from it. I don't know, I have got a decent share of it and I'm happy," explains Srinath.
Though Srinath has not yet thought of his future plans, he is sure to spend more time on some of his passions like music and of course wildlife. "Yes. This is the time when I need to look into this passion more seriously. I would like to spend more time in the jungles along with a few friends of mine, who share the same interest. Everything out there fascinates me. The drive to the jungle, the anticipation of coming across animals, is what draws me to the wild. Sometime at the end of the long trek or drive inside the jungle you may not even spot an animal. But even then, before you come out of the forest, there is that hope of still seeing something. There is that strange kind of fear that sort of grasps you. This is the thrill of being in the jungle."
And maybe Srinath would spend some more time in his native town of Mysore, grooming the young cricketers. "Honestly, I have not really seen much of the young talent in Mysore. Thankfully, there are former cricketers like V. Subramaniam still active there. Subramaniam was my mentor and people like him are the right kind to find the talent and give them the right direction. I might not be as good as them in picking and choosing talent, everybody does not posses that quality. But I would surely spend more time at my hometown. There is a sense of belonging to this town. I spent around 21 years in Mysore, there is no place like home."
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
