What has the former Indian cricket pace spearhead Javagal Srinath got to do with Magma Design Automation? Well, let's just say it's personal. So, if you happen to work in a company where one of the Directors' (Ramesh Javagal) turns out to be the cousin of this charismatic pace bowler, you get this unique chance to have coffee with Javagal Srinath himself.
My chance was on the 6th of January this year, when at around 3pm the man himself strolled into the Magma office, wearing a peach coloured shirt with folded sleeves and a dark grey trouser, along with his cousin Ramesh and a few other friends I couldn't recognize. He signed into the visitors' register and was lead straight to the cafeteria where he waited for the rest of us to gather. He was offered a cup of Magma's delicious hand-made filter coffee and he stood on one side and answered the plethora of questions that were thrown on him.
Q: Can you comment on the state of Indian cricket today? We have now lost 6 test matches in a row on foreign soil?
JS: "Well, I can't say much from here. But I guess the coach and captain know what needs to be done. They have to keep working harder and harder I guess."
Q: How come India is not able to produce good fast bowlers over the years?
JS: "You all know that the wickets here are quite flat and suit spin bowling more. Also, the criteria for getting into any team is to make runs or take wickets. As fast bowlers, if you can't take wickets there is no use. So, the general tendency is for everyone to prefer spin over pace."
Q: Then how come you stuck to fast bowling?
JS: "Fast bowling was always my passion. I somehow, didn't want to change. I frankly didn't care much about selection. I used to just go and work hard on my bowling."
Q: How come Pakistan is able to produce fast bowlers? They also have flat wickets?
JS: "Actually, I think in Pakistan the fast bowlers all come from the Punjab region. And I must not be saying this, but over there the young crickets have no brains (there was grinn on his face)....they don't care about anything else. Simply run in and bowl."
Q: Why can't we have bouncy pitches in India?
JS: "Actually it's easier said than done. Even if we create bouncy pitches, because of the weather and other factors, the pitch will not sustain and go back to being flat. Not many ground staff are willing to experiment with the pitch that they have. Think of why Australia or South-Africa do not have flat spinning wickets like we have here in India?"
Q: What about bowlers' fitness? Why can't our bowlers bowl at 140kms/hr regularly?
JS: "Again, it's go to do with pitches. You can keep bowling on Indian pitches and you will get nothing, so coaches will only give you short spells and spinners get to bowl 10 - 15 overs. I guess one thing we need to do is to encourage our younger players to go play county cricket. We all saw how Zaheer Khan has changed. That should definetely help."
Q: You are now part of cricket Administration in KSCA? Why can't you bring about such changes?
JS: (laughs)...."It's easier said than done.....there is lot of politics and political pressure involved. Even I am learning of all this now. But I am going to try my best to see how I can change things."
Q: What is your take on match-fixing?
JS: (again laughs)...."I can't tell you more then what you all have read in the papers. But yes, it happened and all those who were involved are being punished."
Q: Who are the cricketers you most respected?
JS: (thinks for a while) "I must say Wasim Akram. It was a pleasure to play against him. I think he is one of the best fast bowlers I have come across. And ofcourse, I had the pleasure to play with Sachin in the team."
Q: How is Sachin as a cricketer?
JS: "Ohh, he is very aggressive. I mean he will not punch his fist like Yuvraj or dance like Bhajji (with a grinn), but he enjoys the victories as more than them. He works very very hard and puts in a lot of effort in the nets - batting, bowling or fielding. I mean...his passion for cricket can't be simply explained, but all I can say is he has worked really really hard to become what he is today."
Q: How come you retired early?
JS: "Fitness I guess (laughs). I wanted to retire much earlier, but dada held me back. But I bowled a very bad spell once and then decided it's time for me to go." (smiles again)
Q: How difficult was it for you to take up cricket as a career?
JS: "Ahh....very very difficult. I think we have to blame ourselves for it. It is the society pressure more than anything else. My father supported me, but there is always a tendency for comparisons to be made with peers right."
He then looked at his cousin and continued, "I remember after every semester exam of my engineering, my mother would say....see how Ramesh gets better marks!!" (there was a loud laugh in the cafeteria)
He continued jokingly, "I also remember that when I used to get less marks, I would tell my mother that I was concentrating on my cricket and if I played badly in any match I would tell the coach that I was concentrating on my studies!" (another loud laugh)
We didn't realize that almost an hour had passed by and he excused himself saying that he had to to go else where to meet somebody but promised to try and come back whenever possible.
Before he left though, he waited patiently as almost everyone posed for a picture with him. I wasn't to be left out there -
Those of you who have seen me, can see the comparison. He easily stands at 6'1" and is quite broad shouldered even now, after retirement. More importantly, he comes across as an absolute gentleman who is firmly grounded inspite of being India's premier fast bowler at one point of time.
- Prasan 'Dundee' Shanbhag
- Prasan 'Dundee' Shanbhag
