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The young Sadagopan Ramesh till recently known more for his scintillating knocks in the Ranji matches (where he represents Tamil Nadu), has simply blasted his way into the Indian cricket team. His brilliant knocks in the recently concluded Indo-Pak Test series and then in the Asian Championship matches have sure earned him a secure place in the fluctuating fortunes of the Indian cricket team. What’s more he has already become a household name, a crowd-puller, with boisterous crowds ready on the double quick, to exercise their vocal chords every time he launches into a tirade of strokes. Will he set the world stage on fire as well in the World Cup 1999? Coming in the form of a whiff of much needed fresh air, will he help in turning the tide in favour of India in this hotly contested competition? Let the best team win is an oft repeated saying. Let’s not jade it further by repeating it again. Ramesh is very optimistic. Let’s be too. Only time will tell. But it definitely seems that India has at last found a winner in S. Ramesh. At last an opening batsman to play an innings of character, to lay a stable foundation for the rest of the team to collapse upon!!

So here’s Chennai Chips in a spicy encounter with the refreshing debutante.
Hold on tight to your seat belts. Here we go…..

Chips: You’ve suddenly shot into the limelight with the recently concluded Indo-Pak cricket series. How did you get into the game?

Ramesh: I was really attracted towards the game. I used to play a lot of cricket right from my childhood, a lot of street cricket and local cricket. Then my brothers were playing regular competitive cricket and I used to go and watch their matches. That slowly dragged me into the game.

Chips: How did you feel missing your first Test century at Delhi just by 4 runs?

Ramesh: It was one of the worst feelings, that’s all I can say, especially when I missed my first Test century getting so close to it, yet being so far.

Chips: What actually happened during that controversial run out of Sachin Tendulkar in Calcutta?

Ramesh: It is very difficult to say because it happens only once in a while like that. I haven’t seen anything like this before, so you really can’t blame anyone.

How was Sachin feeling when he was called to calm the crowds?

When you get out in every innings you feel bad, that’s it.

Wasim Akram is considered as one of the fastest bowlers in the world. What approach did you adopt to tackle him?

I think it’s more of batting and bowling in internationals. More of mental toughness. You should be prepared to play anybody on any type of wicket. I just told myself that it’s a great challenge and I want to succeed that’s all. (Incidentally Ramesh found Wasim Akram to be the most dangerous bowler to play in the recent Test series)

Is Shoaib Akhtar as fast as he appears to be on TV? Any special techniques to tackle him? Did you find him so fast?

Yeah, definitely. When you say that you watched him on TV and he appears quick, then when I’m playing him he’s definitely quicker. It’s all a question of mental preparation. I just prepared myself to face the quicker balls. I really adjusted. That’s it.

Will this kind of fast bowling trouble you when facing great fast bowlers on pacy, bouncy wickets like in Perth or those in South Africa and the West Indies?

It’s all a matter of adjustments. I don’t think any batsman in the world can promise that he can get a 100 in both innings. Nobody can. I’ll try my best that’s all.

There is some talk that you have a small technical problem in your batting: you don’t move your front foot out enough.

I think basically I don’t stretch that much and go and lean into the ball. I’m just a timer of the ball. It’s all a learning process for me. I will definitely try to improve in each and every way. I am trying to better myself.

Do you feel that you’ll be as successful in one-day internationals as you’ve been in these recent Test series? Any special technique you’ll be adopting in these matches?

Yah, I think so (to the first one). I am practicing hard. Trying hard. I used to play a lot of one-day games in domestic cricket. So, there should be no problems.

Do you feel you’ll be among the probables for the coming World Cup 1999? (a few hourss before the list was announced)

I don’t know. It’s up to the selectors. If they tell me that I am selected I’ll go and play.

Any special training, coaching or professional guidance that you have received in cricket? Is anyone in your family into cricket?

Actually I have not undergone any professional training or anything like that. But I have received a lot of guidance from my brothers. My eldest brother and my third brother play for the Ranji trophy. I used to get a lot of advice from them.

From the Ranji trophy to international test matches. It’s been a long journey.

Yes, definitely it’s been a long journey. It’s all consistency. Cricket means performing consistently well at every level so that you can climb the ladder.

How many hours of practice do you require every day to do well in the game?

No, I don’t believe in practicing for one hour or two hours. If you just practice with full concentration, probably bat for about 20 minutes with full concentration, I think it will definitely make up for two to three hours practice. When I used to play for Ranji trophy, the practice timings were from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. So I used to just go and bat for about 20 –25 minutes with full concentration. That’s all.

Any particular Ranji trophy match that you cherish?

My debut match in 1995-96. I got a century in it.

When you’re not playing cricket what are your other interests?

I listen to a lot of music and watch movies. Actually, I’m a poor reader so I don’t read many books and yes, I like to be with my friends. That’s all.

How do you get on with your senior teammates? Have they given you any tips on how to tackle the matches.

It’s nothing like that. They’re all very friendly and down to earth people. Yah, definitely they help me.

Who do you vibe best with?

My roommate is Saurav Ganguly and we’ve been sharing the same room for over three matches. He’s really been very helpful. He used to talk to me about the game. Then he’s also a left hander so…..(striking a common bond?)

Any role models? Anybody you consider as your hero?

I don’t have any role models but I consider Sachin Tendulkar as my hero. He’s my ultimate.

Do you think that you still require some extra effort in your fielding?

Definitely! Fielding will have to keep on improving any day. No, no, it’s not a question of lacking something. When I say improvement, it means the fielding can be better. Even Sachin says he has to improve his game. He cannot say that he’s like this or like that.

The Indian team dropped a lot of catches in the last test match against Sri Lanka?

It just happens in the game. Nobody drops catches wantonly. We don’t want to field for two days. We want to get the opponents out as early as possible.

Do you think that Sri Lanka might have been beaten if Jayewardene hadn’t been dropped so many times?

No, I think he was just lucky that day. We dropped too many catches. Because even Azharuddin, if you saw in the Calcutta test, despite being a brilliant fielder, dropped a catch. So it happens in the game.

Are you planning to give a shine to your bowling as well?

Yah! I am really trying to bowl. At the nets also I have started some bowling. If they feel I’m a good bowler then I will bowl.

Are you working in some company?

Yah, I’m working in Chemplast as Senior Officer.

So, what does a normal day for Ramesh involve?

Talking! Talking to you or to some other press persons. Other than that, practicing. I used to go for training in the morning and practice in the evening. It’s always been a busy day for me.

Does marriage figure anywhere in the offing?

Oh! (a long groan) I’ve just completed 22. I feel it will take another 3 years.

When finally you do decide to get married, what qualities would you be looking for in your prospective wife?

(Laughs!) Should be a good human being, a very helping partner and very affectionate towards me. That’s it.

Something about your family background, your education.

We’re a middle class family. My father is a retired bank manager and my mother is a housewife. One of my brothers is working in the bank and one is in a company. I did my schooling from San Thome High School and higher studies from Guru Nanak College.

So how does everyone in your family feel about your being in the Indian cricket team?

They’re very happy.

When you’re at home what kind of food do you relish?

I like South Indian food.

On this note we bid him adieu, leaving him to enjoy some more of his home made rasam and sambar before he leaves for the coming World Cup series.

Shobha Mathur Pandian

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