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Pitching it up to Srikanth
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Anecdotes, discussions and even some silly points made the interaction with Krishnamachari Srikanth a match winner
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Photo:K. Ananthan
Fun On and off the field
It is not often that you watch a celebrity cricketer on TV and barely an hour later meet him in person. That is exactly what happened to a lot of us present at the Humour Society Meeting held recently at the GKNM auditorium. Krishnamachari Srikanth,
in person, was there. And, having just watched him all over the sports channels thanks to the 25th anniversary of India’s unforgettable World Cup victory, it was quite exciting, having him sitting across us reminiscing.
Dr Lakshmipathi opened with his, as usual, sparkling delivery. He spoke of cricketing legends , and of course, had funny observations to make about them. Then he invited Srikanth to take over. There were sections of the audience who were half apprehensive that their hero Srikanth may not be all that funny off-field. I mean, he was great to watch and his mannerisms on-field were funny too, but that did not necessarily pre-suppose a talent for public speaking.
Maiden overs
But, Srikanth bowled everyone over with his opening anecdotes. He spoke of his early days in the Indian team, his first experience of a streaker in England, who had nothing on but a banner held aloft demanding the return of Ian Botham who had been dropped.
He spoke of the cricketers being a pampered lot, given the best deals, the best discounts and the best treatment wherever they went. So, when they were put up at a hotel in King’s Cross in Sydney (a well known red light area), and the inevitable happened, and a few young women offered their services to some players, one of them is supposed to have enquired, “Any discount for cricketers?”
No slips
Sledging, the IPL question, Indo-Pakistan rivalry, the Sreesanth-Harbhajan fracas, everything was discussed. When asked why he had been chosen to be the Chennai Super Kings’ brand ambassador for the 20-20, he retorted that he was the perfect choice as he had never lasted more than 20 overs in any match he had played!
And, so it went. He was never short of an answer and fielded every question with ease, style and humour.
Talking to him had the same effect on us as watching him bat.
PANKAJA SRINIVASAN
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