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Chasing a dream
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Will S. Badrinath of Tamil Nadu play for India? Chances are that he might, one day
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PHOTO: V. GANESAN
WIDE REPERTOIRE S. Badrinath.
Batting is a lot about fire fighting. It's about staying alive when your team needs you. It's about standing your ground when the opponent tests your temperament and resolve. In a nutshell, you got to have the heart for the battle.
Subramaniam Badrinath faced one such situation during the Top End series in Australia this year. Shaun Tate, genuinely quick and rated by many as the next serious fast bowler for the baggy greens, peppered the right-hander from Tamil Nadu with a series of well-directed short-pitched deliveries.
And, from a short-leg fielder, positioned to pouch in case a climbing delivery was not kept down by the batsman, Badrinath could hear barbs like "You are a kid in a man's world."
He did not just ignore the jibes but survived the fiery spell from Tate on a lively pitch at Cairns in the four-day duel between the `A' teams of India and Australia.
Keeps his cool
More than his 59 runs, it was his equanimity in a pressure situation and his improving technique that impressed India `A' coach Robin Singh. "Badri showed a lot of character," said Robin.
The 25-year-old Badrinath has been rewarded for his consistency. He is now among the 30 India probables for the ICC Champions Trophy. The Tamil Nadu captain is delighted with his selection, sees it as a great opportunity to improve and evolve.
The tour of Australia with India `A' for triangular one-day and four-day competitions, that also included New Zealand `A' and Pakistan `A', was a definite turning for Badrinath.
"The pitches had pace and bounce and as a batsman you had to adjust. You had to play a lot off your back-foot. The Australian pace attack was sharp and, at times, quick. Tate, left-armer Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson combined well. It was a challenge," he said.
Badrinath also brought about subtle changes in the way he focussed on the ball. "When you face the quicker bowling on quicker wickets, you need to keep your eyes on the ball right from the time the bowler begins his run-up.
In Indian conditions and against lesser pace, you can even pick the ball in the air as it leaves the hand. But not against somebody like Tate."
The right-hander also appears to have overcome a technical shortcoming that had proved his undoing in the past. He tended to open his blade to short of a good length delivery around the off-stump and play it square of the wicket with a vertical blade. On several occasions, he ended up nicking the ball.
He has learnt his lesson. "Now, I either leave the ball or slash hard at it with a horizontal blade. Even if the ball takes the edge, it generally flies over the cordon."
Apart from contributing in the one-dayers, Badrinath donned the role of a match-winner in the four-day game against New Zealand `A' at Cairns. He piloted the side to a thrilling three-wicket win with an unbeaten 70.
Badrinath, who has 2,457 runs in 38 first class games at 46.35, is constantly widening his range. The present-day Badrinath has more scoring options. "I sweep a lot these days. I seldom played this shot before. I also venture into the inside-out cover drives, which is a very useful shot in the repertoire." An alert close-in fielder and a useful off-spinner, Badrinath does add a lot to the team.
He was, in a surprising decision, made the captain of the Tamil Nadu team for the last two Ranji Trophy league games, against Bengal (in Kolkata) and Delhi (at Chennai). Tamil Nadu had to defeat Bengal to ensure against relegation and Badri led the side to a victory at the Eden Gardens. "The senior players were very cooperative. I had no problems captaining the side," he said.
Badrinath, who turns out for Jolly Rovers in the SPIC-TNCA first division league in Chennai, is an old fashioned cricketer in approach and work ethics. Yet, he is adapting well to the requirements of the modern game.
And he chases his dream in a single-minded manner. "I want to play for India," he says. Chances are that he might... one day.
S. DINAKAR
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