It’s going to be as good as a bollywood awards night. Matching the verve, energy and spirit of the competition is Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor, who is set to enthrall audiences at the YMCA College of Physical Education Nandanam in Chennai on April 3.

Last year, the opening night saw Shak Rukh Khan do the Chamak Challo with Kollywood star Sriya Sharan. This year, the original chamak challo girl will be followed by an array of performances from the legendary Amitabh Bachchan to the mind-blowing Prabhudeva, from the sultry Priyanka Chopra to the charismatic Salman Khan, and from the melodic Colonial Cousins to Katy Perry – Opening Nite has it all. Kareena Kapoor adds her own brand of ebullience to this all-star ensemble, making this an unforgettable evening and the perfect way to start a summer of exciting carnival cricket.

All nine team captains will also be present to take the MCC Spirit of Cricket pledge at the opening ceremony, reaffirming the values in IPL’s commitment to the spirit of cricket, which has been on display since the competition’s inception in 2008.

Tickets prices will start at Rs. 1500 and can be purchased from IPLT20.com. The evening’s performances will start at 19:30 and gates will open from 17:00.

For Saurabh Sangvekar, the 17-year-old swimmer who recently clocked the invitational mark for London Olympics, the journey to fulfill his dreams began in 2010. During the National Junior Aquatic Championship held in Bangalore, national coach Pradeep S Kumar impressed with Saurabh’s performance in 800m freestyle approached the young lad’s father and insisted that Saurabh moved to Bangalore and train at Basavangudi Aquatic Centre (BAC), known to be the best training ground for budding swimmers in the country. Pradeep then had predicted that Saurabh’s qualification for Olympics was a realistic goal.

But coming from a lower middle class family, if not for the Reach Foundation’s support, funding for his training would have been a challenge for Saurabh’s parents. Neelakanta Rao Jagdale, the man who initiated Reach Foundation and also the president of Karnataka Swimming Association, pitched to financially assist Saurabh’s training on a condition that the Maharastra swimmer represents Karnataka hence forth.

The offer came as a golden opportunity for Saurabh who is originally from Thane, Maharastra. Since 2006, BAC was more like a summer home for Saurabh as he used to travel to Bangalore during vacations to train and hence changing loyalty from home state to Karnataka was not a difficult choice for him.

Since then, there has been no turning back for the young lad. He made the ‘B’ qualifying cut by clocking 15 minutes 34.67. The cut off mark was 15 minutes 43.74 seconds. Though clocking ‘B’ qualifying does not guarantee participation at the Olympics as FINA, the world governing body for swimming, is expected to restrict the number of participants to 900 and all those who have made the ‘B’ qualifying would have to wait for wild card entries; Saurabh is working on making the ‘A’ qualifying time and he believes he can achieve the target.

In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda.com, the long distance sensation speaks candidly about his journey so far and his preparations for the big games. Excerpts:

Can you tell us how you developed an interest in swimming…

My house is in Kalva, Thane and there is a swimming pool exactly opposite to where I lived. My elder brother Aditya used to swim and I used to accompany my dad everyday to go watch my brother swim. I was studying in 1^st standard when I started swimming and competed in my All-India Meet in 2006 and won two gold and three silver medals.

When you started swimming did you closely follow any swimmer in India and aspired to achieve like your idol?

Back then, I only knew Rehan Poncha (Beijing 2008 Olympics participant) and I had seen him swim a couple of types. He used to swim for Maharastra that time but I had never got an opportunity to speak to him. It was only after I moved to Bangalore and started training here, I got to talk to him and know him. Other wise, there is no such swimmer who I follow in India.

Since when did you start believing that making it to the Olympics was your only goal?

When I was in 5^th standard, I remember watching Olympic swimming events on TV. It was only then that I became aware and could understand the magnitude of swimming in an Olympics event. I used to think how awesome it would be for me to participate in Olympics. In 2010, my dream of doing that got a boost. Pradeep sir spoke to my dad and said that I have the potential to make the Olympic qualifying and said that the Jagdale Foundation would fund my training. This came as a golden opportunity for me and my parents were very supportive of my decision to move here. It’s been two and half years since I left home and I have not gone back even once.

When your compatriots talk about you, they say that Saurabh trains like a maniac! How true is this?

(Laughs) I don’t train like a maniac. I do know that some of them say I train like mad but I just do the same workout as everyone else who trains under Pradeep sir. There is nothing special in what I do.

For a swimmer who shifts from a different state, adapting to the national coach’s workouts is not easy. What was it like for you?

I can still remember the first session in BAC. The workout was extremely tough. I somehow managed to finish the whole workout but I was dead by the end of it. The first one week was quite tough for me but I picked up gradually. Now I enjoy workouts like Long Distance and Anaerobic Threshold (AT) workouts.

You train for almost six hours a day and you are often left with little energy to do anything else. At 17, don’t you miss doing what teenagers do? Like go out for movies and hangout with friends?

I do like going for movies and eating outside but right now I know this is my best chance to do well in swimming. With Olympics nearing, I have to take care of myself and I need to rest well. It’s a conscious effort to not go out often.

In the past one year, you have slashed timing like no one can ever imagine. Do you think making the ‘A’ qualifying of 15:11 is possible?

In 2011 Junior nationals I had clocked 16:08. That same year at the Asian Age Group I clocked 15:59 and won a silver medal later in the Senior National I clocked 15:51 and broke the national and best Indian performance record. When I swam the Singapore meet where I qualified, I didn’t think I would clock 15:34. I had told Pradeep sir that I can try clocking 15:35 but I swam a second faster than I promised. When I started swimming 1500m event, I never thought I could clock the timing that I am today. I am happy I could go 15:34 from 15:51. I know I can go faster. So, clocking 15:11 to make the ‘A’ qualifying should happen too. I will try and make it happen.

Ever since Virat Kohli scored that staggering 183 to help India win against Pakistan, the media has been going berserk about the 23-year-old’s performance. They have already succeeded in provoking people to wonder if Kohli is the world’s best ODI batsman! Please note: the newspapers are not saying whether he is on the verge of becoming the world’s best; he is being proclaimed as the best already.

Wherever you look, the list of records that have been shattered by Kohli is being quoted. Here are a few of those records:

-  Kohli has scored 11 centuries in 85 matches thus far. No one in cricketing history has even come close to such a feat after having played the same number of games. Before Kohli, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara shared the honors with five centuries each.

-  Of his 11 centuries, a staggering 10 have resulted in an Indian win, 7 of them in successful chases.

-  Virat, so far, has scored more runs than Sachin Tendulkar, Michael Bevan, MS Dhoni, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Dean Jones and Viv Richards after having played the same number of games, i.e, 85 ODIs.

-  His strike rate of  86.31 is the third highest after MS Dhoni’s 96.26 and Viv Richards’ 86.99.

-  His average of 50.56 is second only to Michael Bevan’s.

-  Kohli’s 183 is the third highest individual score in ODIs while chasing. Shane Watson (185 not out) in 2011 and MS Dhoni’s 183 not out in 2005 occupy the top two spots.

-  At 23, Kohli is the youngest Indian batsman to score 150-plus runs in an ODI. MSD held this record previously when he had scored 183 against Sri Lanka at the age of 24 years back in 2005.

-  Kohli’s 183 is also the highest score against Pakistan in an ODI. The record was previously held by Brian Lara who had scored 156 in Adelaide in 2005.

There’s no doubt that Virat is playing at his peak right now. Since last year’s ICC World Cup, the West Delhi cricketer has gone on to make a league of his own in terms of coming up with match-winning performances. “If it is mission impossible, then dial Virat Kohli,” has been the latest mantra, and why not? He has almost single-handedly won the match on two occasions in the past three weeks. The first was against Sri Lanka at Hobart where he scored 133 off 86 balls and the second, of course, was the match against arch rival Pakistan.

Sadly though, on both the occasions Virat Kohli’s heroics went in vain as the team failed to qualify for the final. When Sri Lanka were expected to do a favor to India by losing against Australia in the CB Series, they won that match and qualified for the final, and here in Bangladesh when they were expected to win, they lost and helped Bangladesh reach the final. Such trying times for an Indian cricket fan!

The interesting numbers quoted above have seemingly already made Kohli a ‘record man’. And such a label automatically invites comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar. But there’s a flip side to that as well: Sachin was frequently accused rather than being praised for being a record-chaser, and Virat seems to be on the same page at least for now.

The most striking resemblance between Sachin and Virat that has been highlighted by the media is this—just 3 days after the demise of his father Ramesh Tendulkar, Sachin went out to bat for his country, in the process inspiring India to an unassuming win against minnows Kenya during the 1999 World Cup. Sachin scored 140.

Virat has been through a very similar experience. He was 18 when his father passed away. But the young brave heart found the will to come out and bat for Delhi only a day after tragedy had struck his family. His home team needed him at that point and Kohli didn’t let them down. He made his presence count with a swashbuckling innings of 90 runs and paved the way for his team’s safety against Karnataka in first class cricket.

Kohli himself is a fan of Sachin and in his open letter to the cricket maestro in one of the leading national dailies in the country, Virat had stated: “Sachin paaji, you have a million fans and I am one of them. In fact, I started to play because of you. You had once told me during our 75-run stand in an ODI in Nagpur that I must follow my instincts. I am doing just that and the results are showing.”

Whether Virat Kohli will go on to achieve less or more than what Sachin has, only time will tell. But one must realise that in a team game, an individual’s personal achievement would hold no value unless it leads to victory for the team. That’s the norm of the game, or at least it should be. But unfortunately in India, the media has given greater importance to one man’s humongous achievements than to the team’s wins.

Had India won that match against Bangladesh when Sachin scored his 100^th ton, we (India) would perhaps be in the final of Asia Cup. But no one wants to talk about that loss. The world champions losing to a lower ranked team like Bangladesh was over-shadowed by one man’s unthinkable achievement. For a non Sachin fan, this loss was unacceptable.

Henceforth, I wish Kohli is never compared to the master. Kohli’s numbers should not be his own but his team’s. Kohli’s individual records must not be compared to the those of the Great One; the only record that should be compared is the number of times India won a match because of their contribution.

Yesterday’s run-chase was like a dream. When Pakistan openers Nasir Jamshed (112) and Mohammad Hafeez (105) were beating the daylights out of Indian bowlers, thus setting up a mammoth total of 329, I almost concluded that we (India) would be fighting a lost game. The recent form of the Indian team being a primary reason for my cynicism. But to my delight, I was proven wrong.

Sunday’s win against Pakistan rightfully belonged to one man. Scoring more than half of the target, Virat Kohli (183 off 148 balls) continues to reinstate his position in the team as a match winner.

Much of the record-breaking chase in the Asia Cup match must have brought back the memories of a similar epic encounter between the two rivals about 14 years ago.  It was January 18, 1998—the third final of Silver Jubilee Independence Cup played between India and Pakistan.

Putting into bat first, Pakistan raked up 314 runs for the loss of five wickets. Ten years ago, this was considered as a monumental total—sure shot to gain a victory. Saeed Anwar (140) and Ijaz Ahmed (117) played pivotal roles in establishing a record target of 314 runs.

Similar such roles were played by Jamshed and Hafeez against the MS Dhoni led squad.

Javagal Srinath and Harvinder Singh, the two decisive pacers for India then, played mute spectators to Pakistan duo’s clinical innings.

But it was the young and unabashed knock that Saurav Ganguly played which saw India through. His 124 off 138 balls that included 11 boundaries and a six saw a dominating response to the Pakistani brutal attack on the Indian pace attack.

Robin Singh had played the role of Suresh Raina. Singh had scored 82 runs off 83 balls—a well assisted innings—and constructed a stable 179-run partnership for the second wicket. Sachin played a role that he did yesterday by scoring a blistering 41 off just 26 balls.

The Indian team led by Mohammad Azharuddin clinched the match with seven wickets remaining and a ball left to end the match. Both the innings were reduced by two overs due to bad lights. India had chased 314 in 47.5 overs, which in 1998 was a world record. It was a one-match show performed by Ganguly who went on to become one of the most successful India captains in the years to come. Virat Kohli might well be at the start of the very fame.

Back in the 90’s, India-Pakistan matches used to give goosebumps to cricket lovers. But in recent times, the clash of arch rivals has been devalued to the extent that the first thought that comes to mind is fixing. Sunday’s game being the first match since the two teams’ dubious World Cup semis last year that has come under the cloud of fixing, I am glad Virat Kohli’s charmed innings has helped in upholding the excitement of the rivalry.

A pile of records by Kohli:

-Scoring 732 runs is a record for setting up highest individual score by a visiting batsman at Mirpur. The record was earlier held by Gautham Gambhir who has 619 runs to his credit.

-Kohli’s 183 is the third highest individual score in ODIs while chasing. Shane Watson‘s 185 not out in 2011 and MS Dhoni’s 183 not out in 2005 secure the top two spots.

-At 23, Kohli is the youngest Indian batsman to score 150 plus runs in an ODI. MSD held this record previously when he had scored 183 against Sri Lanka at the age of 24 back in 2005.

- Kohli’s 183 is also the highest score against Pakistan in an ODI. The record was previously held by Brian Lara who had scored 156 in Adelaide in 2005.

In a rare encounter with the media, Rahul Dravid‘s mother, Pushpa Dravid, shares some of her feelings about her famous son in an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda:

On her most proud moment of Rahul’s career:

“I never watched Rahul’s matches. They made me nervous. His father used to follow (them) ball-by-ball and he always kept a tab on Rahul’s progress. So when people talk about Rahul’s greatest knock, there is a good chance I would not have sat through the whole innings. I just used to take a sneak peak into the TV from time to time.

“But if you ask me what moment in his career gave me the greatest amount of pride, I think it has to be his speech at the Sir Donald Bradman Oration. Until a day before the speech, we had no clue he was delivering a speech in Australia. He had called a day before the speech and told Vijeeta (his wife) that it would be telecast at such and such time in India. First of all, to have such an honour is great. He is the only Indian to do this, and to speak for as long as he did is even more amazing. I felt so proud. I think the credit should go to my genes (laughs). Since I have been a lecturer, it must have rubbed off on him”. (She pats her back as she says this).

On traits in Rahul’s personality that she cherishes most:

“Rahul has always been the intellectual one. He reads books, and he can write really really well. Not many people may know this, but his writing simply does not need to be edited. He has a flair for writing. The whole speech that he gave with so much confidence in front of such a high-profile crowd was also written by him without any help.

“Rahul is a thinker and that’s why he is capable of having the vision about the game that he spoke of during the speech.”

On the factors that made Rahul’s childhood dreams come true:

“Rahul always had an inclination towards cricket. As a three-year-old boy, he would accompany his father to the company matches. His father played cricket for Kissan (Sharad Dravid was the general manager at Kissan) almost every week. I think that is how he got interested in the sport.

“A large share of the credit for everything that Rahul has achieved today must go to his school, St Joseph’s High School. The people of that school were supportive all along. They were able to help him bring about a balance between studies and sports.

“Our aim was to keep our children perpetually busy in sports and studies so that they did not waste time on anything else. Their father always told them, ‘do whatever you want as long as you maintain first class grades’, and both our sons did just that. They both never needed a tutor.

“And yet, things were always so uncertain before he got his breakthrough. We insisted that he get a degree; what if he was unable to make a living out of cricket? Today players get paid well, even at the Ranji level, but earlier that was not the case. Thankfully, things worked out for Rahul and he started playing for the country.”

On the secret to Rahul’s extraordinary commitment and concentration levels:

“When I am teaching, I don’t think about home. And when I am painting, I don’t think about anything else. It is something I tell all my students, and something that I instilled in both my sons from an early age. Have all the fun you want; but when you study, stay focused. I used to allow my sons — Rahul and Vijay — to play even hours before their exams because I knew that when they got back home, they would study instead of watching television. Rahul never does anything for the sake of doing it; he is completely committed to whatever he does.”

On Rahul’s life after marriage:

“Rahul was able to focus on cricket even after his marriage and for that I need to thank to my daughter-in-law Vijeeta. She is a doctor but she gave up her career to support Rahul and look after their children (Samit and Anvay). She used to take care of the home while he stayed focused on the game. She did travel with him quite a bit, but not always, as the Samit’s school often got in the way.”

On taking a family vacation:

“During Rahul’s earlier days, we used to avoid traveling with him for outside games because we feared he would be more worried about whether we were comfortable or not. We didn’t want such worries to disturb his game and his concentration. I think now that he is off cricket, we should plan a family trip. Maybe to New Zealand. He has always told me it’s a beautiful country.”

On what it feels like to be the mother of one of the greatest cricketers in history:

“When famous England cricketer Colin Cowdrey told me ‘I wish I had a son like Rahul’, it brought tears to my eyes. I am happy I have been given the chance to be his mother.”

At 23, Team India’s vice captain Virat Kohli has achived the kind of fame that would make even a Bollywood star envious. From being a brash Under-19 World Cup winning captain, Virat has transformed himself to become one of the most reliable, match-winning batsmen for India.

So it is not surprising that Kohli has become every Indian girl’s dream date. A hug, a kiss and beyond (the kind of stuff that can’t be mentioned on our site) are the usual demands that Virat gets from the opposite sex. Girls love him and he is aware of that. “Sometimes ham hi ko sharam aa jati hai, women come up to you and say such bold things, right out,” Virat said to a reporter in Delhi during the opening of a popular joint called Khan Chacha in Delhi.

And he’s not just attracting the frivolous kinds of moves – the future Indian captain has also started getting marriage proposals!  ”Nahin, rishta… mujhe toh pata nahin. I think a few people have tried to convey the message that they have a daughter in the family and stuff, so my mom told me… It’s funny because I’ve heard of these things before (happening with other cricketers), and to get something like this yourself, it’s funny, so I just laugh them off,” he admitted sheepishly.

Is he at all considering the idea of getting married, in the process breaking a million hearts? “No way! I am only 23,” he quickly refutes.

That said, Kohli doesn’t plan to be single all his life. He concedes that if someone interesting comes by, he wouldn’t stop himself from getting to know the girl and perhaps even dating her. “Why would I stop myself?” he demands.

So all the girls reading this space, you know what you have to do if you want to ever be lucky enough to go on a date with Virat Kohli. You have to be interesting. Easier said than done!

On Tuesday, the 17-year-old Saurabh Sangvekar had made the ‘B’ qualifying in 1500m freestyle to become the youngest swimmer to qualify for this year’s big games in July.
Both Aaron and Saurabh’s qualification comes as a positive way forward in the sport. In the past, Nisha Millet was the lone representative at the 2000 Sydney Olympics followed by Shikha Tandon who represented the country in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Though both of them came close to qualifying the second time, they missed out by a few fractions of a second.
However, in 2008, four swimmers made the qualifying for Beijing Games. Rehan Poncha, Sandeep Sejwal, Virdhawal Khade and NRI swimmer Ankur Poseria formed the Indian contingent in swimming.

Though for now, Khade and Sejwal are the only two Indians to have made the Olympic invitation time for the second time in a row, Rehan Poncha too is expected to swim within the stipulated time in the 200m butterfly event.

In a sensational swim, long distance swimmer Saurabh Sangvekar clocked the qualifying mark for the London Olympics in the 1500m freestyle event. In the Olympics qualifying event being held in Singapore, Sangvekar clocked 15 minutes 34.67 seconds on Tuesday to make the cut. The qualifying time for the event is 15 minutes 43.74 seconds.

This is the first time an Indian swimmer has qualified in a long distance event. Up until yesterday, only Sandeep Sejwal and Virdhawal Khade had made the Olympic qualification mark by clocking the required times during the FINA World Swimming Championship in China last year. Sejwal has qualified in 100 and 200m breast stroke while Khade has qualified in 50 and 100m freestyle.

Sangvekar is thus the third Indian swimmer to qualify and his performances all of this year have been stunning. He stole the show at the 65th Senior Nationals this year, putting up the best Indian performances in almost all the long distance events.

At 17, Sangvekar will be the youngest Indian swimmer in the contingent for London Olympics. The Thane-born swimmer trains in Basavangudi Aquatic Centre (BAC) in Bangalore under the watchful eyes of national coach Pradeep S Kumar. His qualification must surely be viewed as a great success for Kumar, who had predicted a few months ago that the youngster’s qualification was a realistic goal. Kumar also has the qualification of Rehan Poncha for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 to his credit.

Not many swimming critics believed that the Indian system was equipped to produce a good long distance swimmer who had the potential to make it to the Olympics. With Sangvekar’s qualification, this concern can certainly be put to rest, at least for now.

Did the media have anything to do with Rahul Dravid‘s retirement?

This question had been bothering me ever since the news of Rahul Dravid’s retirement broke out. That is why it was important for me to put the question before Dravid during the post-retirement press conference. And this was no ordinary press conference; it consisted of a very niche crowd of cricket writers and also the biggies in the sport—Gundappa Vishwanath, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Sunil Joshi, Vijay Bharadwaj, et al. The audience also included Dravid’s family and his well-wishers. It was a one-of-a-kind announcement.

The last Indian Test player to have retired was Anil Kumble who chose to play a farewell game against Australia during the Border Gavaskar Trophy at the Firozshah Kotla in Delhi, the same venue where he had picked ten wickets. But Dravid’s was a sudden announcement, even if it was expected for some time now.

Dravid did try to clear the air about the issue, insisting that recent media reports did not influence him in any way to quit. These are his exact words: “I don’t follow every word that is being written. But I know that you get criticized when you don’t  do well. Irrespective of how the Australian series had gone, in my own mind I was sure that after the Australian tour, I would sit down and look at a lot of things.  Now it is easy for me to say that but I would like to think that I would have come to the same conclusion. I have confided with my friends that I would sit down and assess the situation after the Australian tour, not only about my own position but also where Indian cricket is at and what should be the way forward”. Still, there are reasons to believe that the media certainly did make some impact.

The situation has many parallels with the saga of Sourav Ganguly, or ‘Dada’. Back in 2008, the senior players in the team had come under immense scrutiny. India had just lost a Test Series to Sri Lanka and with the Australian team touring India for the Border Gavaskar Series, the Fab Four – VVS Laxman, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, were put under tremendous pressure. It was widely proclaimed that the four senior player’s advancing age would lead to a poor team performance in the tour.

Prior to the start of the tour, the India team were based in Bangalore for a 21-day preparatory camp under the tutelage of coach Gary Kirsten. Each day, one player was made available to talk to the media.  But the men who had come under criticism – Ganguly and VVS Laxman – never appeared before the media.

About ten days before the commencement of the series, the newly appointed selection committee led by Kris Srikanth named Sourav Ganguly in the squad for the first two Tests. There were talks of a ‘Voluntary Retirement’ scheme being offered to the senior players so that they could exit before they were dropped. But several big names, including Anil Kumble, then India’s Test captain, had ridiculed the theory as being mere media speculation.

Then, on the 7th of October, two days before the first Test match in Bangalore, Saurav Ganguly appeared before the press. It was expected that either the team captain or the vice-captain would attend the presser but Ganguly’s attendance surprised us all.

Ganguly seemed calm and composed as he answered questions about his selection, his future in the team, and the series ahead. He very patiently answered all queries and even obliged to answer intriguing questions about the retirement of seniors players. He rubbished reports of a voluntery retirement scheme offered by the BCCI.

Just as the Q & A ended and the news channels switched their cameras off, Ganguly continued to speak without moving an inch from his seat.

He said: “Before I leave, I just want to say that this is going to be my last series. I have decided to quit and I have told my teammates before coming here that the series will be my last. I hope I go on a winning note.”

His timing was uncharacteristically casual, coming as it did at the end of the daily press conference. His announcement stunned the audience. There was absolute silence and no one knew what had hit them.

He continued to speak before journalists could gather their thoughts and ask questions. This was big. One of the greatest India captains was retiring, and that too without any prior notice (unlike in the case of Dravid, where all journalists got a media invite by the BCCI to attend the press conference).

“To be honest I did not expect to be picked for this series. I have been dropped a few times so I have got used to it now,” he further said.

Earlier that day, as the Indian team got ready for the team photograph before practice at the Chinnaswamy stadium, there was one person missing from the picture. Sourav was still in the dressing room and had not joined the team. Just as people around starting talking about ‘typical Dadagiri’,  Ganguly ran onto the field and joined in. The picture was complete, but for the last time.

Ganguly had also famously said: “When we started, we had greats like Azharuddin, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sanjay Manjerekar. We (the youngsters) performed and we came in (the team). That process will go on. It’s all about performance. Every year of your career you will have somebody waiting. Five years ago, it was Dinesh Mongia, Hemang Badani; five years later it’s Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma. Five years down the line, it’s going to be someone else. That’s the way this sport functions and we just have to live with it.”

Coming back to Dravid’s retirement, it’s true that every great player has to make way for youngsters to come in. But has the BCCI found that ‘performing youngster’ who is deserving of a Test slot ahead of Dravid? Or was this just a case of the media pushing a player to the brink, from where he had no option but to quit?

The very people who had questioned Rahul Dravid’s position in the team during Australian series asked him if he didn’t want to play another series. They wondered whether he wanted to push his decision by a year.

But why? Why should Dravid continue? So that his greatness is questioned again?

Kumble, before his retirement, had blamed the media for putting the players under scrutiny. He asserted that people need to be respectful when they are criticizing any player. “When discussed rubbishly, and the way it’s been portrayed, it really hurts. When people discuss players, it needs to be handled respectfully. If that is done then we don’t mind the scrutiny,” he had quipped.

So, was Dravid hurt? Did the media-bashing during the Australian tour damage his spirit enough for him to quit the game? The truth will never be told.

On the day he bid goodbye to international and domestic first class cricket here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the place where Rahul grew as a cricketer, cricket lovers would like to fondly remember him as a classical Test match batsmen—a WALL that Team India can no longer lean on.

BCCI President N Srinivasan called Dravid a consummate team player. And why not, when Dravid was the one who was willing to keep wickets when he was asked to, open the batting if the team wanted him to and accept any role thrust upon him without so much as a murmur.

Dravid’s illustrious career that began at Lord’s with a flamboyant 95 in 1996 lasted 16 years.  He ends his career today as one of the greatest players of his generation, perhaps second only to Sachin. He scored 13,288 Test runs – behind only Tendulkar – in 164 matches, with 36 hundreds at an average of 52.31. His ODI career, which effectively ended in 2008 with a brief reprisal in 2011, was almost as successful, replete as it was with over 10,000 runs and 12 centuries. He also has 210 catches, a Test record, in addition to 196 catches in ODIs.

In an uncanny interaction with the media on Friday, Dravid took on every question fielded to him. Throughout the press conference, Dravid was usual diplomatic self, but he still seemed to be speaking his heart out.

Excerpts from the press conference:

What prompted you to take this decision?

Like I said, I felt it was the right time for me to move on. I had a glorious run, a wonderful run. I felt it was time to move on for the next generation of young Indian cricketers to come on and play and take the team forward. A lot of these decisions they just come to you in some ways.

It must have been difficult to make such a decision?

Yes and no. When you leave something like playing for India – a life that I have lived for close to 16 years and, five years before that of first class cricket, it is tough. It is not easy. It’s all I had known all my growing life. It was a challenge. Yes, from that point of view it was a difficult decision. But it also wasn’t a difficult decision for me because I knew in my heart deep down that the time was right. I was very happy and comfortable in what I had achieved and what I had done. It is hard in a way and it’s also easy in a way.

Is there any achievement which could have left you more satisfied? And also what are your  plans for the future?

If you play for 16 years, there are going to be times in your career where  you have to face some incredible highs and some disappointing lows. That is part and parcel of being an international cricketer, especially for one who has played for a really long time. While I say there are many disappointing times in my career, there  have been some great highs. At the end of the day, there is a huge amount of satisfaction that even though I might have failed in certain times or failed in achieving certain things, I have always given it my best shot. I have left no stone unturned to try and become the best cricketer I could ever become. I think that leaves me with a huge amount of satisfaction. Definitely there are no regrets.

Critics have always had something to say at every juncture in your career. Is there anything you want to tell your critics now?

Absolutely not. I respect the fact that when you play international sport in a country like India where there is a huge amount of passion, you have to learn to deal with it. It is a part of the challenge of being an international cricketer. We have to accept criticism and we have to learn to deal with it. They are the two sides of the same coin. I think the media has been kind to me.

Were you following what was being written in the media during the Australian tour and if yes, did that push you to take this call? And also, had the series gone differently would you have taken this call now or waited a little longer?

I don’t follow every word that is being written. But I know that you get criticized when you don’t  do well. Irrespective of how the Australian series had gone, in my own mind I was sure that after the Australian tour, I would sit down and look at a lot of things.  Now it is easy for me to say that but I would like to think that I would have come to the same conclusion. I have confided with my friends that I would sit down and assess the situation after the Australian tour, not only about my own position but also where Indian cricket is at and what should be the way forward.

How long did it take for you to arrive at this decision? Did you have a word with Sachin about this?

For a year now I have been aware of the fact that after each and every series, I have assessed the situation where I was and this was no different. I came back from Australia and I wanted to take the emotion out of it and spend a month at home, think dispassionately. So I came to this decision and I knew that I was clear in my mind. I have spoken to Sachin. I have spoken to a lot of my team-mates. Everyone was incredibly supportive, as they have been right through my career. That’s it.

You have had the opportunity to play with the best in the business, can you tell us about that…

It was an honour and privilege to play alongside a galaxy of stars and legends whether it was Sachin, Anil, Sourav, Srinath, Laxman, Sehwag, Harbhajan. Maybe I am missing out a few names here. I was fortunate to have played in an era which was successful for Indian cricket. Some of the guys that I have played with, my sons may not understand or recognize, but if they go on to follow the game, they will realize that I have played with some of the greatest players, players who meant a lot to Indian cricket. Sharing a dressing room with them was an absolute honour. I have learned a lot of things from them in the last 16 years as a person and a player.

When Adam Gichrist announced his retirement, he had said that dropping a catch of Laxman made him arrive at the conclusion that it was time to go. Any such moment which sparked the decision for you?

I don’t think there was a Eureka moment for me. For each one it comes differently. For me it has come after a lot of contemplation, with friends and family. It is difficult to give up the shirt but you have to realize that this moment has to come to everyone. As you play international cricket and see greats retire while you are playing, you know that this will come to everyone. While it will be difficult, I make no mistake in saying that I love playing for India.

Don’t you think you could have waited for one more series? Why shock us with your decision one fine morning?

I didn’t wake one fine morning and take the decision. For me, I needed to be sure that I was playing the game for the right reasons and that I was able to achieve great things for Indian cricket and achieve wins. I have done that for the last 16 years and I feel the time was right. I know that I had a great run and I had given it some thought.

Don’t you have absolutely any temptation to play one more Test match? Did you want to have a farewell series like Kumble or Ganguly did?

If you make a decision during the course of the series, then I think it is great. I have been part of some nice farewells but I made the decision now. I had the time to think and contemplate. Just to keep playing for the sake of one Test – I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think that was the way I played the game. It was important for me to move on. I needed to play for the right reasons. As much as I respect other people’s feelings that I should have played another Test, I hope they will respect and appreciate my feelings.

People have termed you as the ‘Wall’ for a long time now. What does the word ‘Wall’ mean to you?

I never really thought of it or took it seriously. I will be honest with you that when people call me ‘Wall’ I used to joke around saying they were setting me up because after I fail, it is easier for them (newspapers) to say things like ‘there is a brick in the wall’, ‘the foundations are weak’, ‘the wall is missing’ and other similar things. They must have probably thought, “let’s call him the ‘Wall’ so that later we can ‘use’ it against him”. I know that a lot of people call me that very fondly and I respect that. But I never really thought that I was a Wall when I walked out to the middle.

Did the dropped catches of late influence the decision?

It didn’t influence in making the decision. But yes over the last year, I have dropped two or three catches which I could have taken. Whenever you drop a catch, it is disappointing. And as people who have played with me will tell you, nothing frustrates me more than dropping a catch. I can get over getting out after 15-20 minutes but when I drop a catch, that stays with me for a very long time. And, it really hurts in a lot of ways. But the decision was not based on that. As a slip fielder, you drop some catches. That is part and parcel of the job. The fewer you drop, the better you are.

Can you point out one innings that you will cherish for long?

It is hard for me to pick one innings that means lot to me. Obviously there are two or three that come to the top of my head. The 180 at Kolkata and the partnership with Laxman, the 233 in Adelaide, the couple of innings that I have played in Jamaica for a Test win on a low-scoring wicket, Headingley, Rawalpindi… I guess there are quite a few that come to the top of the head but it is hard to choose between your sons.

You made a mention of Bradman’s line ‘leaving the game better than you found it’ in your speech. Do these words inspire you? Also, would you like to be part of building a road map for Indian cricket?

It is for other people to judge whether I have left Indian cricket better than how it was when I started off. It’s not for me to make that decision. In terms of what I will do, I have got a couple of months in the IPL and after that, in June, I will have some time to put my feet up and relax and see what is ahead of me. I am sure that there are many opportunities and ways with which I will be able to contribute to the game. I feel it is wrong to use the word ‘contribute’ because sometimes you feel the game is too big for you to contribute. I will play my part, maybe in helping kids. I have not made up my mind. Come June, I have to sit and think what lies ahead of me.

When did you inform the selectors about your decision to quit?

I had a personal conversation. To be fair, I have kept them informed and involved. But what I have conversed is a personal thing.

Where do you see Indian cricket heading to, particularly in Tests? Do you see anybody coming close to you?

We are very disappointed by the fact that we didn’t do well in England and Australia. Having said that, I still do feel Indian cricket is in a good place. There is some really exciting talent coming through. As to who will replace me, in the last two years I have felt there have been exciting  talented batsmen waiting in the wings who can definitely step up and take over. They have got the talent and skills required to be successful. When I look back at myself as a 23-year-old when I played for India, and then look at the present players, I know that I was nowhere near as talented as these kids. Obviously just being talented does not necessarily mean that you will have a successful Test career. There are lot of things that go with it – how you face the challenges and how you deal with things which are sometimes internal more than external. And, I think it will be really interesting for me to sit back on my couch and watch some of these young talents as they establish themselves over the next two or three years. I hope two or three of them can establish themselves and play for India for a long time. In my generation, myself, Sachin, Ganguly and Laxman and Viru who came in late and Gauti, we were able to establish ourselves in the Indian team, and it makes a big difference. If you have people coming in and out all the time, that probably means that they are not performing well enough. It breeds instability, if you don’t get performances consistently. It is a really interesting and challenging time to see which one of these kids will stand up.

What do you have to say about the speculations of a rift within the Indian team? Was any of it true?

Absolutely not. Like you said, it is speculation and rumours and there is no truth to it.

Temptation to play one more domestic season?

Not really. Most of the guys in our side are pushing for South Zone selection and things like that. To be honest, I felt that I would be blocking an youngster’s place by playing another season of Ranji Trophy. Sri did ask me but I said no.

What can we expect you to be doing post June?

I have not decided on what comes after June. I truly believe that a little bit of time away from the game will be good for me. I have played this game for 20  years and have lived in a cocoon, so to speak, a surreal world. It has been away from reality in some ways and so many former cricketers have told me that if you get away from the game for me a while, it gives you a better perspective and you will be able to come back and look at things differently. When you play, it is difficult to see things from outside. Whatever decisions I take will be based on the fact that I have a young family and want to spend time with them.

How much would you miss the routine of waking up early and coming out to train?

I will miss that a lot. I have lived the routine, going to the KSCA or NCA every morning. My wife tells me that I now have to get out of my routine. My new routine will be buying the groceries (laughs) and going to pick my sons from school and dropping them to school.

Can you tell us a little bit about the bowlers you have faced? Who according to you has been the best?

Shoaib was a good bowler, a fast bowler but he was probably not the best I have played. He was a good bowler, no doubt about that. People like Mcgrath, Muralitharan, Ambrose, Walsh, Akram, Waqar, Shane Warne – they are great bowlers. I had the privilege of playing alongside Anil, Sri, Harbhajan in the Indian side. There were some great bowlers in my time and it was always a challenge to come up good against them.

Who according to you is the next Dravid?

I wouldn’t like to name one particular player. I would like to say that there is a huge group of  young Indian players who can be better than Rahul Dravid. I would love to believe that in 16-17 years, you will be attending a press conference of a player who has done lot more than I have.

Sharad Dravid was a happy man on Thursday, the 9^th of March 2012, for his son Rahul announced his retirement from international cricket after achieving almost every echelon that the game has to offer. Apart from reaching personal milestones, Dravid has managed to win the honour of being one of the most respected cricketers in the world.

Most rightfully then, his father Sharad thinks his son’s decision to retire couldn’t have come at a better time. “I think it was the right decision to make. He told us about it only two days ago and he did not exactly discuss what he was thinking with us,” said an aging Sharad Dravid to Sportskeeda.com.

A file photo of Rahul Dravid with his father Sharad in his childhood days

Watching his son give a retirement speech amidst cricketing legends Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, BCCI President Srinivasan and media personel did get him emotional. Sharad played cricket himself for his company Kissan back in the 70s when Rahul was a young boy. It was his interest in the game that had Rahul development a sense of passion in the sport. Amongst Rahul Dravid very many special knocks, Sharad feels that his century in the Lords Stadium is his most memorable.

In an emotional speech which he presented at the KSCA hall to annouce his retirement, Rahul Dravid touched upon every aspect of the game that he holds so dear. He thanked his junior coaches, team-mates, selectors and obviously his family.

Here is the copy of the speech that will be etched on the minds of cricket lovers:

“I would like to announce my retirement from international and domestic first-class cricket. It has been 16 years since I first played a Test match for India, and I feel it’s time for me to move on. Once I was like every other boy in India, with a dream of playing for my country. Yet I could never have imagined a journey so long and so fulfilling. I have had a wonderful time, but now it is time for a new generation of young players to make their own history and take the Indian cricket team even further.

No dream is ever chased alone. As I look back, as one does at such a time, I have many people to thank for supporting me, teaching me and believing in me.

My junior coaches in Bangalore and at various junior national camps inculcated in me a powerful love of the game which has always stayed with me.

My coaches at the international level have added to my craft and helped shape my personality. They pushed me and challenged me to keep getting better. The physios and trainers worked hard to keep me fit – not an easy job – and allowed me to play late into my 30s.

The selectors who rarely receive any credit in India had, on occasions, more confidence in me than I had in myself and I am grateful for that. The various captains I played under offered me guidance and inspired me.

The media has been kind to me, and I have respect for their craft.

The KSCA and BCCI have provided me a platform and the facilities to play the game.

But most of all, I have to thank the teams I played with. I know what I am going to miss the most is being part of a unit. The joy of bonding together and striving to achieve a goal is what made cricket special for me. I was lucky in my early years to play for a Karnataka team which was trying to forge itself into a strong side and they were years of fun and learning.

In the Indian team, I was fortunate to be part of a wonderful era when India played some of its finest cricket at home and abroad. Many of my teammates have become legends, not just in India but in the wider cricketing world. I admired them, learnt from them and I leave the game with wonderful memories and strong friendships. It is a great gift to have.

A career in sport is almost impossible to manage without the support, guidance, and reassurance of family and friends. During tough times — and there have been many — they are the ones we go to. I found strength and encouragement from my parents (Sharad and Pushpa ) and brother (Vijay) and they created around me a positive environment which was essential to my success.

My wife, Vijeeta, has been a remarkable partner in my journey. She has made sacrifices in her own career and has almost been a single parent bringing up our children alone as I traveled abroad to play. Whenever challenges appeared, she was always there, as sounding board, as ally and as guide. Being away from my family became harder and harder through the years and I look forward now to spending time at home and doing the simple things, like just taking my sons (Samit and Anvay) to school.

Finally, I would like to thank the Indian cricket fan, both here and across the world. The game is lucky to have you and I have been lucky to play before you. To represent India, and thus to represent you, has been a privilege and one which I have always taken seriously. My approach to cricket has been reasonably simple: it was about giving everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity, and it was about upholding the spirit of the game. I hope I have done some of that. I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying. It is why I leave with sadness but also with pride.”

Read on:

It has been a glorious career embellished by Rahul’s contributions to many a memorable victories for India and Karnataka. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate Rahul.

My first thoughts are drawn to Rahul, my friend and colleague for 20 years. Quiet, unassuming and completely consumed by his enthusiasm and passion for the game. Rare are those individuals that hold the unique combination of exceptional talent and commitment. His ability to concentrate for long hours remains unmatched. He is someone who is constantly in search of perfection and this is attributed to his striving for excellence at all times. Over 13,000 runs in Tests, over 10,000 runs in ODIs and over 400 catches in international cricket, a fantastic record indeed, however, they only capture his contributions partly. His reassuring presence at the crease or on the field allowed every other batsman the rare indiscreet shot.

I was really fortunate to have played along side you, its been an honor. You are a perfect ambassador for cricket and an ideal team man. We have shared some wonderful moments together on the field and have had our share of worries as well. In all of it, you have been a constant friend and a colleague that I depended on for advice.

As president of the Karnataka Cricket Association, I wish to say that you are an inspiration and a role model , and you have been responsible for a lot of young cricketers to have taken up the game. You are amongst Karnataka’s finest cricketing sons. On behalf of the management I would like to congratulate you on a great career, and am sure the committee will now expect to see you often in the association wearing your administrative hat.

On life after retirement, Sri (Javagal Srinath) and I can surely share a few notes with you. On a serious note, I can tell you that you will become busier with exceptional demands made for your time. Your ability to say ‘NO’ will be challenged like never before.

We plan to celebrate Rahul’s career and achievements befittingly soon.

Finally, I would like to congratulate you again on a glorious incomparable career. Enjoy the much deserved time with family and wish you all the very best in the future.

“I have mixed feelings. We have been privileged to see one of the finest cricketers India has produced … not only has he been a great player, he has been a great role model – the kind of person who cannot be matched,” said Srinivasan at the press conference where Dravid announced his retirement.

“He is actually irreplaceable … none of us want to see such players go away, we like to think they are permanent …it is not easy to step away when you’re still playing well. It is a sad day…for me personally. I have watched him grow from playing cricket in Chennai,” he added.

The BCCI chief thanked Dravid for his contribution to Indian cricket.

“There is hardly anything for him to achieve…Thank you Rahul, thank you for what you have given to Indian cricket. We wish you very well. The BCCI is honoured that you have been part of the Indian team,” he said.

Excerpts:
On grooming leaders in India:

The (Indian) culture is very different, it’s not a team culture. They lack leaders in the team because they are not trained to be leaders. From an early age, their parents make all the decisions, their schoolteachers make their decisions, their cricket coaches make the decisions. The culture of India is such that, if you put your head above the parapet someone will shoot it. Knock your head off. So they learn to keep their head down and not take responsibility.

On how British are taught much better than Indians:

The Poms (British) taught them really well to keep their head down. For if someone was deemed to be responsible, they’d get punished. So the Indians have learned to avoid responsibility. So before taking responsibility for any decisions, they prefer not to,” Chappell was quoted as saying during a promotional event for his book ‘Fierce Focus’.

On Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni being an exception:

Dhoni is one of the most impressive young men that I have ever worked with. When he came into that Indian team, you just knew that he was a leader in the making. He was definitely someone who could make decisions, and he didn’t mind putting his head above the parapet, and didn’t mind putting the bigger players in their place. I think he is the best thing to have happened to Indian cricket in recent times.

On how excessive cricket has now started taking a toll on Dhoni:

But looking at him (MSD) on this tour – I didn’t meet or speak to him at all – but just watching the body language and just watching him on the field, it wasn’t the MS Dhoni that I knew. I think Indian cricket has worn him down as well. Especially, captaining all three formats, and India plays about 50 per cent more cricket than Australia does. And Dhoni played four years, captaining three years while being wicketkeeper and their key batman – one of the best chasers of a target that I’ve ever seen.

Indians appeared disinterested in Test cricket:

It was obvious from the start of the tour that the Indians weren’t really interested in Test cricket. After the Australians showed that they were going to be a formidable foe, I was very disappointed with the Indians. And having worked with many of them and having been in the dressing room with them, Test cricket was too hard for most of them. They can only make a lot of money playing 20-over cricket. Fifty-over cricket they can sort of put up with.

Test cricket for a lot of, not only India, a lot of subcontinent teams, I think it’s pretty tough. And the challenge for Test cricket is, without the sort of grounding that we (Australians) had as kids, Test cricket is too hard. It’s very demanding mentally, physically and emotionally.

On his opinion about Sehwag’s interest in captaincy:

Sehwag thought he should be captain after (Anil) Kumble, so there is a bit of a collision there. I think Dhoni is getting to a point where Test cricket is getting too hard for him, and the undercurrent around the dressing room cannot help.

After a long lay off from the Indian team, big hitters Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan have managed to figure in the Indian squad to play the Twenty20 international against South Africa. The one-off match will be held in Johannesburg starting March 30.

Fast bowler Ashok Dinda too has found a place in the team. He was picked ahead of Umesh Yadav. MS Dhoni will lead the side while former Vice Captain Virender Sehwag has been left out of the squad.  Leg Spinner Rahul Sharma too has made to the squad.

Though the one-off Twenty20 fixture against South Africa has caught Team India players by surprise, some of the regular members of the squad said that they had no prior knowledge of the game and the fact that they would have to rush to South Africa for a couple of days to play just one match.

It certainly would be hectic for the players who would be playing the Asian Cup starting next week in Bangladesh and will have to make a quick dash to South Africa before getting ready for the highly demanding Indian Premier League immediately on return.

The Twenty20 game is scheduled on March 30 which means the Indian team will have to fly to Johannesburg on March 28, less than a week after the Asia Cup final (March 22). Immediately after their return, they would have to get ready for the IPL which begins on April 4.
It has been learnt that some of the IPL teams are unhappy with BCCI’s last minute plans but have no choice but to give a go ahead.

Sreesanth can’t seem to stop his wayward ways that lands him in trouble. In a fresh controversy, the medium-pacer who is attending the Rajasthan Royals preparatory camp for the fifth edition of Indian Premier League allegedly jumped the stadium wall of Sawai Mansingh Stadium complex late in the night to attend a party.

It has been reliabaly learnt that the cricketer returned from the party in the early hours the next day, again scaling the wall. Aussie pacer Shaun Tait too reportedly joined Sreesanth in this act.

The Keral pacer has most often made headlines for wrong reasons other than cricket. The Royals including skipper Rahul Dravid stayed in the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s academy inside the stadium complex during the camp. The complex is controlled by the Rajasthan State Sports Council, which has some stringent rules regarding entry and exit.

All movement in and out of the complex has to be entered in a register at the main gate. If a visitor staying at the academy or one of the hostels wants to go out of the complex after 7 pm, he needs to inform the sports council authorities.

Though the Royals refuted these allegations the sports council, however, is not willing to buy this explanation. It has formed a three-member committee to look into the matter.

Back from a sensational doubles win at the Dubai Open on Saturday last week, tennis player Rohan Bopanna who teamed up with Mahesh Bhupathi for the first time to lift a title spoke to the Bangalore media here today. Rohan, individually ranked at No.5 in the doubles, climbed up three spots to reach his highest career ranking of No.8 on Monday.

Bopanna’s struggle to get noticed ended in 2011 when he and his former partner Aisam Qureshi qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals but not before clinching the titles at Halle, Stockholm, and Paris Masters. The duo had also entered the final of 2010 US Open.

However, now, with the intention of competing in London, Bopanna chose to break his long-term association with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi at the start of the year to join hands with Bhupathi. After a stuttering start, the duo pocketed its maiden crown as a team last week in Dubai.

In the interaction, he talks about the big win and also on the changes the pair had to adapt to be more successful.

Excerpts:

Tell us about your first title win along with Mahesh Bhupathi…

Victory in?Dubai was a great moment. Every win is significant, but I will always consider the win in Dubai as a special moment in my career. Dubai had great fan appeal, with great turnout from the Indian community in the semis and finals. We got a lot of support from the crowd.

You two had an edgy start to the season but Dubai Open win must have silenced your critics?

There is no talk of silencing the critics. We want to work hard and improve our game. Bhupathi has such a vast experience of 17 years and many Grand Slam titles under his belt. It was easy for me. It was easy to get along with him.

Tell us about your decision of partnering with Mahesh Bhupathi…

Playing with Mahesh is wonderful, as we have been friends for a while. Mahesh has been mentoring me through the years as when I was still playing the Junior Tour, he had already won a Grand Slam. This partnership is a great opportunity for me to tap into his immense experience, and this helps me better my game. We are both raring to go for this season.

What’s yours and Aisam Qureshi’s relation like after parting ways?

I have known Aisam for over 15 years now. I see him more as a friend than as a doubles partner, and was glad that I could be part of his wedding celebrations at the close of last year in Pakistan

Was there any kind of adjustments that you and Bhupathi had to make to become more effective?

We had a rough start but we worked on our weaknesses and strengths. First I was playing in the advantage court and Bhupathi in the deuce court. But later, we shifted with Bhupathi playing in his favoured advantage court and the strategy worked for us. Whoever is playing better on that day will take charge and that is how we get along.

You think you have a realistic chance of playing the London Olympics?

Representing the country at the Olympics is a proud moment for every athlete and I look forward to that. For now, I’m concentrating on my fitness and playing good tennis.

You turned 32 recently. What was the celebration like?

After a gap of 7-8 years, I celebrated my birthday in Bangalore. Nothing more than some of my friends mashing cake on my face! (laughs)

The Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) is buzzing with energy all thanks to the golfing stars who have decended on the Bangalore course for the start of the inaugral edition of Louis Phillippe Cup that begins here on Wednesday.

The field includes the likes of Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyothi Randhawa, Digvijay Singh, Gaganjeet Bhullar and several other top ranked golfers from the country. In an open media session organised on Monday, young gun Anirban Lahiri who is in speldid form after winning Asian tour and sealing a dream spot in The Open Championship spoke to the gathering about his big wins and how a ten-day meditation course was the key to his success this season.

Excerpts:

Last year wasn’t as great for you. But you have been able to bring about a complete turn around in your performance this year… Your comments on your progress and qualifying…

It’s a great feeling and I think it will only sink in once I tee off at the Open. It has always been my dream to play in the oldest and the most prestigious Major. Now that I have finally made it, the feeling is awesome. Last year I got off to a great start and then went into a slump. I took my foot off the pedal and I’ve learnt from it. The second half last year was disastrous in terms of opportunities and not taking them. I’ve also matured from having played badly in the second half of last year. I’m going to take this victory (Sail-SBI Open) in my stride. My focus levels will be a lot higher this year as compared to last year. Hopefully I’ll learn from my mistakes and improve on my performance.

Did you do anything different in your preparations this year?

I took a ten day meditation course in January. I went to the Vipassana International Meditation Centre in Hyderabad. I had done it before and the course has always helped me to rediscover myself. I didn’t go specifically for my golf, it has always helped me to get clarity in my personal life and in my head and that translates into my golf. I’ve become less angry on the golf course. It has also helped me stay in the present and not get ahead of myself.  My expectations went up after the victory last year at the Panasonic Open and I started getting in my own way. That is what I must do differently this year. I still need to focus on the process, on my routines and practice and not worry about the results.

What’s on the cards this season. How do plan on taking your performance further?

I just want to go out there and enjoy my game. As far as the target is concerned, I am not thinking about any quantitative goals nor do I have money target. This approach has helped me in the past and I am sure that it will be helpful even now. I’m not setting any quantitative targets this year. My targets this year are to perform well and compete in some of the co-sanctioned events. That is where my record hasn’t been the best and I need to improve. I’m focusing more on competing and playing well in the bigger events. If I can stick to my goals and doing better in those (bigger) events, the results should follow. There still a long time to go till the end of 2012 and let’s hope for the best.

Would you be keen on moving westwards to the European and PGA tour like many other golfers?

It is a difficult question to answer with confidence because golf is a funny game. Sometimes it takes five years to take you to a higher level. Sometimes in the space of two years you can go up two or three levels. I have seen a few who have done that. Everybody has his own time. I can’t say how quickly I can get there, but my endeavour is to get there. However long it takes I’m ready to work till then and afterwards as well.

You will be playing in front of home crowd in the LP Cup starting Wednesday. Tell us a little bit about the Bangalore team…

We definitely have some strategies in place. Over the first two days we are focusing on playing conservative aggressive golf and it is probably best to go all out on the last few days. As far as my team goes, Manav and I have played together and practiced together before. Abhishek Jha is in good form as well. He just won some money off me, so he is doing good (laughs). The great thing about playing in a team is that you put your heads together and come up with strategies that work best for us.

The Sports Ministry on Monday strongly refuted Hockey India’s [HI] claim that it had refused permission for the national camp in Bangalore, saying it was the HI which had changed the dates of the camp in order to scuttle the World Series Hockey.

Hockey India sources on Sunday said that the Sports Ministry was yet to approve the training camp, which was scheduled to start at the SAI centre in Bangalore from Monday.

Rebutting the charge, a Sports Ministry source said that as per the decision in the Steering Committee meeting on February 6 and 10, it was decided that the first phase of the national camp, leading up to London Olympics, will be held from March 13 to April 27.

A representative of HI was also present in the Steering Committee meeting.

But on February 27, the day after India qualified for the London Olympics, HI Secretary Narinder Batra wrote a letter to Sport Ministry, saying that the national camp, which will have 48 players in it, be started from March 5.

According to Batra’s letter, the 18 players who have qualified for the Olympics “will be on active rest” from February 28 to March 14. They will join the camp on March 15 while the rest of the 30 players, many of whom are playing in the World Series Hockey, will join from the beginning on March 5.

“The previous plan was to have the camp in Bangalore from March 13 but Hockey India changed it with malafide intentions so that those Indian players who were with WSH do not join it,” a Sports Ministry source said.

“After everything was finalised, it was Batra who wrote a letter to us just a day after India qualified for the Olympics that the national camp be allowed to begin from March 5 with the fringe players taking part in it,” the source said.

“The 18 players who were part of the team which beat France in the final of the Olympic qualifiers were to join on March 15 and the camp was to start with the remaining 30 fringe players,” the source added.

The Ministry source said HI’s intention by expanding the list of probables and preponing the camp was aimed at scuttling the WSH.

HI sources on Sunday said that the Madhya Pradesh government has stepped in, saying they would bear the entire cost of the camp if the federation wants to host the training camp there.

There has been a never-ending tug-of-war between HI and Indian Hockey which has not done anything good for the game in the country.

The IHF-backed WSH has been the bone of contention between the warring HI and IHF, and the stand-off has resulted in most of the national players skipping the tournament, fearing a ban from International Hockey Federation (FIH), which recognises HI.

The ministry has been supporting the WSH, which was postponed in December for the Olympic qualifiers, but its inaction regarding the approval of the camp has left players confused and also affected their Olympics preparation.