The Conversation with the GOAT !!

HK is and will always looks like the most unassuming bloke you can ever meet. Rarely raises his voice, thoughtful and respectful. But get him into any sport and you see a totally new avatar. He is the gold standard in the maidaan and everyone is either trying to impress him or get the better of him. 

This Q&A with him while he responds from his travels in the US is an interesting one. 

1. How important has your cricketing journey at the maidaan been ? 

Cricket is an integral part of my weekends. I plan my day around the weekend cricket. I look forward to meeting you all, playing as a team and having a good spirited and competitive game.

 

2. ⁠You do it all but it’s been noticed that when you don’t do well in one discipline you go harder in the other . Bad day with the ball and its hammer and tonkers with the bat. Can you elaborate? 

I guess being an all-rounder helps 😃. I feel the intensity increases when the game is close. It feels good to contribute towards a win which might be the reason. I tend to push hard on bowling when I fail in batting and not the other way. Good bowling day gives more satisfaction than a good batting day.

3. ⁠Which players do you prefer facing up against in a match ? Who challenges you the most ? 

I had a tough time bowling to Sundar initially. The faster I bowled the longer the ball went. Had to work on a lot of variations. Off late it's been Hari. Sometimes you don't know what to do. He kills my plan A, B and C. One person I absolutely hate bowling to is Kishore. His defense breaks my morale 😃

The toughest bowling to face for me is Arjun with Hari keeping. Always puts me in two minds. I hate facing spin in Maidaan. I like facing all fast bowlers 😜

4. ⁠A massive six over the nala or a wicket where you flummox the batter. Reasons for your choice . 

Always a wicket that you take with a plan. It gives a different level of satisfaction. I am still chasing the elusive leg cutter hitting the top of off-stump wicket.

5. ⁠Do you sulk when you have a bad day at cricket ? 

Thankfully no. Emotions are then and there. But I do think on what I can do better and tend to analyse and over analyse my game.

6. ⁠Who is the most improved player (s) at the maidaan in the last two years ?

I feel we all have collectively improved. The boys have certainly taken giant strides. Arjun once he started bowling leg spin is in a different league. KG's batting has been a revelation. Chaitanya, Dhruv and Harsha are consistently playing match winning knocks.