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Beyond the pitch
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A tete a tete with Gautam Bhimani, who has just penned his hilarious experiences
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I don't agree with the contention that cricket is going the WWF way as matches are not staged here
PURPLE PATCH Gautam Bhimani says lighter doesn't mean trivialising
He has reported live from treetop and helicopter, has faced Akram and Muralitharan in the nets, and now Gautam Bhimani has penned a "Reverse Sweep". Admittedly a travelogue, the Rupa publication encapsulates incidents from the working days of a man responsible for bringing the lighter side of cricket into our living rooms.
"Cricket is the most analysed thing in India apart from Bollywood and politics. So I wanted to bring some lighter side of the game to the public. I always wanted to write my experiences but I thought it would be in the form of a memoir late in the life. When Rupa came up with the offer, I said why not," shares Bhimani.
However, in the same vein he adds, "Lighter doesn't mean trivialising. I have always captured moments that make cricket coverage complete. People do watch cricket from treetops in the Caribbean. Then if you have to show the 365-odd islands that constitute Antigua, the best way is to use a helicopter."But funny could easily translate into dangerous as well.
"If you have an idea like reporting live from a helicopter, hardly anybody supports you. When I reached the helipad I saw a dark fellow removing the doors. When I asked how we would fly, he replied in a heavy Caribbean accent. `That's the way'. It was very risky, particularly for the cameraperson who had to lean out to capture me."
Gautam recalls his one-on-one with Wasim Akram.
"I came up with this idea to end an episode of Super Selector where Wasim would bowl to me in the nets. He agreed. He said he would bowl outside the off stump. During the shoot, I hit one of his deliveries through the covers. He apparently got angry and the next delivery was short on the leg stump. It hit me in the rib cage. It left a purple patch. I could not breath properly for the next few days and could not sleep on that side for three months. It was in good humour but he kept on asking, `how could you hit me through covers?'"
He agrees that these days cricket is being primarily played for television audience. Gautam says he is happy BCCI (Board of Cricket Control of India) spurned the 20-20 offer.
"I believe Australia and New Zealand have come out with a decent combination where they start the series with 20-20 to warm up."
Son of a sports journalist, Gautam also started his career as a sports journalist with Pratidin, a Kolkata daily.
He maintains his covering of lighter side of the game hasn't ruined his image as a serious sports commentator.
ANUJ KUMAR
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