The Conversation with Hari - The Man, The Musician, The Myth!!!

1. You have been playing cricket with this group from the initial days back in 2018. How do you think the overall standard of the game has progressed?

The standard of the game improved brilliantly. Tactically we are miles ahead - especially on the bowling. If you remember, we used to have 4s and 6s on the inside fence. Bowlers used to just amble up and bowl, and batsmen used to swing.

Today, most of the bowlers have good plans for each batsman - where to bowl, where not to bowl, line and length to target. So batsmen with limited shots cannot survive easily.

I think the strategy for batsmen has remained largely the same though - see ball, hit ball :) . Partly the shape of the ground dictates this - not many options, so we need to hit straight. But the standard of batting has gone up leaps and bounds mostly. Even Bips is hitting straight now... you can imagine. I must say though, CP needs to get better and avoid Bajpai's house ;)

2. The feeling is that the crowd and opposition and can heckle Hari into playing a false shot. How true is that? 

Hahah. Total bunkum!!!  

Some over-enthusiastic Mallus might have that opinion, but there is no truth to it. When I bat, I am in my own zone.  It's all about rhythm for me... bat has to feel right in my hand, feet have to be light.

Yes - sometimes, in my zone, I do feel I can hit any ball over the fence.

Some days it works out, and other days it doesn't. That's just cricket, isn't it?

3. Your keeping is always raising the bar. Who else in the group do you think has the potential to be a better keeper? 

From a very young age, I loved keeping. That was the best insurance for when you failed with the bat.

Ensured you are completely in the game at least for 50% of the match... and you can guide the bowlers, help the captain with the field etc. 

Keeping is also about rhythm... on some days I mess up, but more often than not, I do ok.

Obviously Samir is a very safe keeper and a great strategist from behind the wickets.  In terms of reflexes and standing up to pacers, I feel Susmit or HK can do the job, but they are more valuable as bowlers or in the outfield when not bowling.

4. Some of your outbursts have legendary status. What makes you get to that point or is it just momentary? 

I thoroughly embarrass myself on the maidaan typically once a year. Unfortunately when I get too passionately involved, I am ripe to get triggered by something that happens on the field - some stray comment or situation.

The shame of the outburst will last for about a year, and then it repeats!! 

5. Working out in the gym, playing tennis against your robot, cricket with Samyukth around the fountain. What would you prefer doing the most? 

By far, I prefer cricket with Samyukth. That is the only situation where I love losing. And usually our matches are very one-sided. Typically he will score 400+ and get me all out for less than 50 !!

6. You are a musician at heart. Can you pen a few lyrical verses about Palladian cricket? 

Oh boy - I love music but have no clue about writing poetry. But I can try -

Roses are red, Violets are blue,

I love Palladian cricket, and all of you!