Pravin Tambe sings praises of Rahul Dravid and Paddy Upton

Pravin Tambe

Leg spinner Pravin Tambe heaped praises on the Rajasthan Royals team management, which is led by Rahul Dravid and Paddy Upton, for keeping the team together, the effect of which reflected in their performances last year where they managed to reach the play-off rounds of the Indian Premier League.

In an interview to IPLT20.com, Tambe said: “RR has always played as a family. Now that there are few of us there, we will definitely enjoy more. The bonding is such that you don’t feel the difference whether it is your first year or second…The way Paddy Upton and Rahul Dravid speak, you can feel that there are no seniors or juniors. And so you see performances in the team. Sometimes it is a youngster or an older player who performs. Everyone is treated equally.”

Rajasthan Royals used the Right-to-Match card to retain him. On that move, Tambe said: “When a team uses the ‘Right to Match’ card for you, that means something. I feel good that they used the card for me and that has given me a lot of confidence. They have shown a lot of faith in me and I will be giving my best shot for them.”

“In this team, all they tell you to do is express yourself. There is no pressure and that helps. They tell you to do what you know to do, and don’t try to do something different. It’s not like you have to do this or that. They never burden you with anything.”

Interestingly, Tambe revealed that he doesn’t go in search for wickets; instead, he concentrates on stemming the flow of runs and wickets follow. The 42-year-old said: “In T20, I have never thought about getting wickets. I only concentrate on stemming the flow of runs, and the wickets follow. Even if I don’t get wickets, I am saving runs for my team. My main aim is to cramp the batsman and not let him get runs. And I know that if I am able to do that, then I will get wickets.”