Red Bull has developed itself as a platform for young and aspiring cricketers from colleges and institutions to fight for a chance to make it big on the international scene. In the year 2012, the company introduced Red Bull Campus Cricket to promote the game and provide new generation cricketers a platform to demonstrate their talents and expertise.

The RBCC is a competition for university-level cricketers that has been running for over a decade. In 2022, the magnificent event celebrated its 11th year, and for the last two years, the women’s leg has been included in the event to give women’s cricket a boost and encourage them to play as much as possible.

Last year’s women’s edition included just two teams, but this year’s event has grown to four teams, with plans to add additional teams in future editions to strengthen the spirit of competitiveness among the players and inspire them.

CricTracker got in touch with former India cricketer Snehal Pradhan, who had graced the occasion on the Grand finale as she talked about the importance of the tournament for the female cricketers, the aspects of women’s cricket in the country, India women’s Tests, Women’s IPL and a lot more.

About Snehal Pradhan:

After watching Jhulan Goswami bowl on TV, Pradhan was motivated to play cricket for India and hoped to one day begin the bowling attack for the country alongside her. She pulled off her ambition in 2008, and between 2008 to 2011, she served Indian cricket in ODI and T20I formats. She announced her retirement from all forms of cricket after spearheading the Maharashtra assault for the greater part of 15 years and currently serves as an independent sports journalist and an expert commentator while continuing to promote women’s cricket in some capacity.

Excerpts from Snehal Pradhan’s interview

Q. You left the game very early, but have been a massive supporter of the game in some capacity. So how do you think RBCC is helping the young cricketers to build themselves?

This tournament fills a very important gap in the country because if you look at the existing cricket structures, it has been affected due to the pandemic, but before the pandemic inter-university cricket used to happen. But what happens there is that out of the select universities of a state or a city, the best team of the lot gets to represent at the higher level. There is no inter-college tournament. So RBCC kind of fills that gap and gives an opportunity for the young players to play for their colleges, an opportunity for those who may not get selected in the university teams to play.

So if we talk about depth in women’s cricket, we need depth in not just the state system but even below the state. Because there might be 15 girls who represent their state, but there must be probably 100 more from the state who will be willing to play. Thus, for the remaining girls, there need to be tournaments where they can express themselves and this is a lovely tournament for them to be able to do that in a very professional manner, in a way that they won’t experience anywhere else.

Q. For those players who don’t get a chance to play at RBCC, what do you think should be a motivational factor for them to prepare and come back next year?

The fact that they’re playing such a high-profile tournament, the fact that they’re playing in a tournament where the games are streamed live, and there are some people around here who are idols for them. That is a huge motivation. If a girl is not getting selected here and she is a big fan of Smriti Mandhana, then she knows that because Smriti is a Red Bull athlete, she is going to be here at this tournament. What they will have at the back of their minds will be ‘I really want to meet her, and I’m going to make sure I’m on my college team’. So, that’s a big factor.

Q. The Indian women’s team has been playing more of ODIs and T20Is, and also franchise cricket. They played two Tests last year, but no game in that format has been scheduled for this year. Where do you see Indian Women’s Tests going?

I see that the top three countries- England, Australia, and India will have a very big say in the women’s Test because we have to accept the reality that hosting a women’s Test versus hosting three T20 matches, the broadcaster will definitely choose the latter option. It is more cost-effective for the organizers also. So only countries which have a healthy financial position are the ones that are taking the responsibility to keep the Women’s Test format alive. And I would love to see a few more Test matches happening for our Indian women, now that we have seen two games being played last year.

Every high-pressure format helps a cricketer to build composure. People who are calmer will do better. That is what we have seen in every format of the game irrespective of the duration. But Test cricket definitely has a special place in the heart of all cricketers and the boards can definitely support the Test format by hosting more Tests. Whenever there is a team that is willing to play a Test match, the board should be willing to make that investment in the game. It may not be a return-on-investment kind of a venture, but to make that investment in order to keep that format alive.

Q. What do you think would be the impact of a full-fledged Women’s IPL on the growth and development of women’s cricket in India, and the development of the women cricketers from around the globe?

It will be a fantastic thing whenever it does happen. Because if you look at the Indian domestic system, there are 35 teams, and having something like a six-team IPL, and maybe an eight-team IPL in the future will condense the best talent from those 35 teams into six or eight teams and add the talent of overseas players as well. So it will make a stepping stone between domestic and international cricket, give domestic cricketers an exposure to play with the international players, and therefore increase the levels of the cricket that they are playing. Hence, overall, it will be an absolute win-win for literally everyone in the ecosystem.

The Red Bull Campus Cricket National Finals initiative has been a blessing for the budding women cricketers all over India. RBCC provides a stage where the players can represent their college/university, and go on to play for their state teams by performing well at the event.

RBCC is a tournament curated for the university-level cricketers and has been going on for more than a decade now. The glorious event stepped into its 11th year in 2022 and for two years, women have also been made a part of the event to provide a push them and their cricket forward.

While there were just two teams in the women’s edition last year, the tournament was expanded to four teams this season as it aims to increase the competition in the future. CricTracker got in touch with the Indian women’s team vice-Captain and Red Bull athlete Smriti Mandhana as she opened up about various things, including the importance of RBCC in the growth and development of the women’s game.

Excerpts:

How do you think RBCC has added wings to the young women cricketers’ dreams?

When I heard the concept of RBCC, first, of course, it was for boys, I thought that it was a unique concept. It is an event that provides a platform for the young cricketers and motivates them to perform well to fulfill their dreams and playing some big games for their state and then the country. The women’s edition started recently, and it expanded this year. It is a one-of-a-kind event and I wish other countries come up with such tournaments like RBCC for women cricketers, and that will happen soon. But everything starts from that one dream. The dream of achieving something big, and RBCC is bridging the gap and helping in fulfilling the dream, by motivating the cricketers to work harder and achieve their goals.

What do you think motivates the players who participate but do not get a chance to play?

I guess it is something that the players would need to inculcate in themselves. They should keep themselves motivated to work harder next year and make the cut if they don’t get a chance to play in a particular year. The same applies to those who do not get to play the tournament with their team. They should keep one thing in mind – ‘If I’m not selected this year, I’ll work hard on myself and make a mark next year’. Getting selected or not, you can get something out of both.

One will need to refurbish their goal and that is what would back them throughout their journey. Then again it depends upon how the person perceives it, but I’m sure they take it as a motivation to get better. This is exactly what happened to me when I was growing up. I went to the senior level and saw the girls playing another level of cricket and felt ‘Oh, they’re way better than me and I need to work hard on myself and put up a competition’. So, that surely acts as a motivational factor.

Where do you see Women’s Tests going?

The concept of Test has come into the scenario recently and we got to play two Tests last year, one against England and the other against Australia and both were away games. I love the concept of multi-format series, where the players get to experience all three formats back-to-back and get equal exposure to the game. Four days of Test cricket followed by T20Is and ODIs gives us the sense of proper professional cricket. It gives a whole other meaning to the bilateral series. Of course, we do have the ICC championships, but the multi-format series gives importance to every format and every single match that we play.

There is always pressure whenever you go out to play a multi-format series, and we experienced it twice last year. Even if you win the ODI series, you still have to handle the pressure of winning the games in the other formats. Women’s Tests being added to an ODI and T20I tour enhances the game even more. Wearing the whites and going out to bat on the field, is an experience and I’m happy we could experience that twice last year I look forward to experiencing it a lot more in the near future.

Which format of the game holds more importance in developing a cricketer as a professional?

I think all the three formats are equally important because the more the cricket, the more the cricketers develop from the core. Every format holds its importance in the field and every format helps the cricketer to learn something different, which will add to their personal growth and development.

T20I format gives you a lot of power-hitting, to play the shots freely, ODI gives you the idea of how you should construct an innings and how do you go about it, and Test cricket helps us to understand the game better, and provides us with the composure. It gives an idea of how do we stay on the field for a long duration and hold our place in the game without losing our patience. I’m talking from a batter’s point of view. I’m sure the bowlers will have different takeaways. We did not have many Tests matches being played earlier, but getting to experience that is just a different feeling.

India’s domestic cricket circuit has seen many young faces emerge every year, who go on to become big stars in the IPL, followed by making their way into the national side. One such star in the making is Uttar Pradesh’s Jasmer Dhankhar, a spinner by profession, a member of the UP Ranji squad, who also served as a reserve player at the Lucknow Super Giants’ camp in the recently concluded IPL 2022 season.

The 23-year-old had left his team skipper Karan Sharma, and other team members, impressed by bagging a three-wicket haul on his debut Ranji game for UP against Maharashtra. In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, the rising star spoke about his experience at the IPL 2022, the learning points throughout his time with LSG, and the fun moments that he shared with the members of the team.

Here are the excerpts from Jasmer Dhankhar’s interview:

As LSG was a new franchise and new group was formed, how long did it take for players to gel up and form a bond in a short span of time?

LSG is a terrific franchise. It never seemed like it was a new franchise making its debut at the huge event. Because the coaches and members of the support staff had established such an environment, we never felt left out, there was a closeness amongst the players from the beginning. So, from the first day, it was apparent that the adventure with the side would be incredible.

A piece of advice you received in IPL 2022 that you will remember throughout your career?

The single piece of advice, which I felt was particularly appropriate and important, was to live in the moment. As a player, you have a tendency to ponder about the future, which makes you uneasy and causes a lot of thoughts to rush through your head. As a result, I believe it is essential to live in the moment.

What is the single best lesson you took from the whole experience?

The most important thing I’ve learned is to keep working hard toward my goal. What helped me the most was looking at the players’ performance and learning from them in every match. During practice sessions, we try to emulate what we learned from the match. I keep that in my mind, always, throughout the practice and it proved to be very useful and helpful to me.

Which team-mate of yours impressed you the most during practice and otherwise?

I was impressed by KL Rahul, and the way he prepares himself makes it seem like he’s batting in a match rather than in the nets. That was an eye-opener for me since he doesn’t play a single ball casually. A player like him who is so focused on cricket, and his lifestyle, is rather reserved. I loved how he expresses himself to the rest of the world and I enjoyed watching him play.

Who was that one senior pro who took you under their wing?

It was our bowling coach Narendra Hirwani who kept pushing me. That felt really nice because he is someone who was a star player during his time. He worked on my game and supported me throughout. That was a big motivational factor during my journey.

What changed in you after having such an experience?

The process changed my mindset, as a person. It was a great experience for me personally and professionally as well. I will never forget this journey.

Who do you reckon had the best cricketing brain in LSG squad?

I felt Gautam Gambhir had the best cricketing brain. I liked how he thinks in a very distinct way.

How was it interacting with Gautam Gambhir?

Gautam Gambhir is a very honest and upbeat individual. Every squad needs someone with his characteristics. He may even be brutally honest at times, which is exactly what you need.

Did Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya’s earlier feud have any effect on the team’s surroundings earlier in the season?

No, we didn’t have any of those feelings, and I don’t believe it was ever a problem since everything was so relaxed. We didn’t even have the impression that there was an issue. Things happen on the field, and we go on as professional cricketers. We don’t hold on to such grudges.

Was there any prankster in the LSG dressing room? If yes, recall an anecdote about his antics.

Umm, Karan Sharma was a prankster in the camp. I remember how he put ice on Ankit Rajpoot when the pacer was giving an interview. It was fun!

Former Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan is one of the most destructive power hitters to have ever played for India. The right-handed batter was a part of India’s 2007 and 2011 World Cup-winning squad and has played some memorable knocks for his nation and the IPL franchises he has represented. During his playing days for India, Pathan was considered as one of the biggest ball hitters in the slog overs.

Overall, the 39-year-old played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is and amassed 810 runs and 236 runs respectively. The right-handed batter also played some memorable knocks in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He represented Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the inaugural edition of the tournament and was instrumental in taking the side to the glory. He was even adjudged the Player of the Match in the final encounter against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Yusuf Pathan opened up about his memories with former RR skipper Shane Warne, who passed away earlier this year. He also shared a special message for RR who will be playing the final match of IPL 2022.

Shane Warne studied my game and gave me the freedom: Yusuf Pathan

Talking about his relationship with his former Shane Warne, Pathan said, “I remember he (Warne) used to say that, I am his man who can turn the match or win the match for our team. Before coming to the IPL, Warne studied my game and gave me the freedom to play as I wanted. He showed confidence in me right from the first game and whenever there was an important match including semi-finals and finals, he used to boost my confidence. Warne will always have a special place in my heart.”

Pathan also opened up about an incident when he missed a pool session after a game in IPL due to communication gap. As a result, he and Ravindra Jadeja were punished by the former Australian cricketer. “I do not recall him punishing us for any practice session, but we missed a pool session due to some lack of communication. As soon as were about to reach the hotel, I along with several other cricketers from the international arena including Jadeja were told to reach the hotel by walking as a punishment,” Yusuf added.

Sanju Samson plays aggressive cricket and enjoys the game: Yusuf Pathan

Meanwhile, the senior Pathan is pleased with RR skipper Sanju Samson’s performance this season. “Samson plays an aggressive brand of cricket and enjoys his game. His game has improved and he is also captaining the side very well. His wicketkeeping skills has also improved,” he stated.

Speaking about the decision to include two new teams in IPL 2022, Pathan stated, “Inclusion of two new teams in IPL 2022, presented an opportunity to young players to show their skills and said that it is a good sign for Indian cricket.”

When asked about which one youngster has impressed him the most, “I cannot take name of only one player, but Tilak Varma, Shahbaz Ahmed, Umran Malik, Mohsin Khan, Deepak Hooda and Abhishek Sharma have impressed me in the current edition,” he added.

In her teenage days, Sindhu Sriharsha cemented her place in the India A team and was a key player for Karnataka. However, limited chances as a wicketkeeper-batter in the state team pushed the then 23-year-old to try a different career. Pursuing MBA in Finance and Marketing, she got an opportunity to work with a multinational company. A couple of years later, Sriharsha got married and moved to San Francisco.

After shifting with a non-work visa, she needed something which would keep her occupied throughout the day. Sindu’s husband Sriharsha MS suggested starting the second innings of her cricket career. In 2015, she was a part of the United States of America (USA) squad for the series against Pakistan. After playing for around three-four years, she was handed an opportunity to lead the team in the 2019 ICC Women’s Qualifier Americas. In the same tournament, she made her WT20I debut against Canada and finished as the leading run-scorer with 80 runs in three games.

Since then, she has been leading the USA Women’s team and has garnered 159 runs in 14 WT20Is. As of now, she’s  leading the Warriors team in the inaugural edition of Fairbreak Invitational Women’s T20 2022. In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, which was organized by Eurosport India, Sriharsha opened up about the tournament and answered several questions on USA cricket.

Here are the excerpts from Sindhu Sriharsha’s interview:

You are leading the likes of Hayley Matthews and Mignon du Preez in the Fairbreak Invitational tournament. How has been the experience to share the field and lead some of the top international players?

It’s a lot easier knowing that they already know the plans, and know what they need to do. They have given me a lot of tips on batting and strategies. It’s amazing and I have tried to take as much learning as possible. There are many other leaders in the team, like Yasmeen Khan, who is the vice-captain of Namibia, and Georgia Redmayne, the captain of the Queensland team in Australia.

There is so much leadership experience in the team, and I have tried to take all the knowledge possible from them. We have an environment where everybody can walk up to us, and tell us what they want or what needs to be done as a team. We are collaborating well with each other. The results might not show but we have enjoyed playing with each other.

You are also getting a chance to rub shoulders with some of the legends of the sport. Who were you most excited to meet?

The first time I heard that I will be playing along with Hayley Mathews and Mignon du Preez, it was a dream come true. I couldn’t believe I will be sharing a dressing room with them and would be able to practice with them. We have picked the tips on the field or off the field, which will benefit more in our game, career, and skills, and take us to the next level. I think every one of us is thankful for the opportunity to rub shoulders with greats from the game of cricket.

There has always been a debate about women not getting equal payments as men. A few years ago, US Women’s football team was paid equally. What’s the scenario in USA Women’s cricket in this aspect?

I think Australia has already done that for women’s cricketers, and they have almost equal pay. Every full-member team, once they start actually looking into it, like England, India, and South Africa, we can reach there. I think we are not too far and we are all doing the right things to be able to reach there. The World Cup 2020 showed how women’s cricket can be a good advertisement for the spectators to come out there and see what they can do. It can take a couple of more years for the full-member nations to reach there, but we, the associate nations, are far away. The full member can reach there if we start investing in the right place.

The Fairbreak tournament has players from both full-member nations and associates. Do you think this can bridge the gap between the strong and not-so-strong teams?

It is helping to bridge the gap. You can already see the score lines in the recent games, which is something unheard of when we play associate cricket. The beat is so fast, that’s been amazing for us and now we know what we lack and what we need to be working on – areas like powerplay or some kind of thing like smart cricket. For example, we have not accessed the paddle sweep yet. It’s amazing to see the players closely and when you see them on TV, you cannot gain much.

In the field, you get to see thinking of players in different situations, and how they change their game plan and adapt. It’s amazing for each one of us and when we return to our home country and share this learning, we can only be better from here.

How easy or difficult it is for a captain to form an atmosphere and culture for a new team, especially when the tournament is short-spanned?

I should first say that the support staff has been brilliant, like Julia Price [Coach] and Sian Kelly [Assistant coach], and Julie Abbott, the Manager. They did a fantastic job to get us all together. Ahead of the season, we had zoom calls to introduce ourselves, and a few morning sessions to get to know each other. When we came here [Dubai], we knew each other to some extent. From the word go, we spend time with each other and get to know each other and build that relationship, bonding, which can go further than the two weeks we are together.

It is hard when you don’t get the [desired] results, but the objective for the team has been to trust the process. It isn’t too hard when the team is more motivated to do things and focus on personal improvements rather than the result. It hasn’t been difficult, and all of them have been energetic and keen on the tournament. In the last game of the tournament, we would look to go out there and give our best. We are still smiling and laughing around because the support staff has been quite encouraging and process-oriented rather than results-oriented.

What is your message for the budding women cricketers across the world?

First of all, any person today should play a kind of team sport. What we learn from the game, we cannot learn from the education that we get in schools or colleges. I believe winning and losing get us to adapt ourselves to different situations and environments. I would say just believe in your passion and be more resilient, and process-oriented, like most of the times I have done.

In 2011, if you would have told me I would be leading the country and also playing franchise cricket in 2021, I wouldn’t have believed it. All I did was just follow the passion and just play for the love of the game, and just be more process-oriented and the results followed.

Umran Malik has been the toast of the nation in the ongoing 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The youngster has impressed the cricketing fraternity with his sheer pace and the Sunrisers Hyderabad are also backing him to the hilt. At no stage the 22-year-old has compromised with his pace this season and while, at times, he has gone for runs, Umran is also picking up wickets as the season is progressing. Irfan Pathan was the one who watched him closely during his stint with J&K and is impressed with the youngster’s progress.

On Sunday (April 17), Umran delivered a sensational last over bowling a maiden and picking up three wickets. It was a testament to his improvement as well as the young bowler looked menacing. He got the job done for his team by nipping out the tail and had also picked Jitesh Sharma’s crucial wicket earlier in the innings to end with the figures of 4/28 in his four overs.

Speaking exclusively to CricTracker, Irfan Pathan stated that the fast bowler is improving with every match he’s playing and also lauded SRH for backing him. “Umran Malik is the fastest Indian bowler we’ve ever had. He is consistently clocking 150 kmph speed. He is getting better with each passing day. He is improving. Sunrisers Hyderabad are showing immense faith in him,” he said.

I like the way SRH using Umran, says Irfan

Umran Malik has mostly bowled in the overs outside of powerplay this season. While SRH are giving him full freedom to bowl at pace, they are also making sure that he gets all the support by introducing the pacer in the middle overs. It is also leading to him taking wickets and troubling the batters with his pace. Irfan Pathan liked the way the Orange Army is handling him and felt Umran Malik is fulfilling the role the way Rashid Khan did for SRH.

“I quite like the way Kane Williamson is handling him. In the first match, he bowled in third or fourth over in the powerplay. As soon as they realised, SRH management seems to have thought let’s bowl him after the powerplay and make him a middle-overs wicket-taker, something what Rashid Khan used to do. They are planning the same thing with him and are giving him proper space as well. He is being nicely managed by SRH and Kane Williamson,” Irfan further said.

When asked if he has any message for the 22-year-old, Irfan Pathan just advised him to not change anything and also predicted a bright future for him. “I am really happy with his progress and I really hope that he keeps doing what he is doing at the moment. His future is bright,” he added.

Umran Malik has so far picked up nine wickets this season in six innings and he will improve even further with a former player like Dale Steyn present in the dressing room as a bowling coach. The former South Africa cricketer is already amazed by the way Umran has been bowling and even enjoyed the way he castled Shreyas Iyer with a scintillating yorker. Steyn celebrating the moment with Muttiah Muralitharan in the dugout was exciting to watch as well.

Moreover, Steyn recently revealed that Umran Malik has been his inspiration in a Q&A session on Twitter which clearly shows he admires the youngster for the giant strides he is taking at the top-level cricket.

Rohan Kunnummal might have been a late entrant in Ranji Trophy at the age of 23 but the promising batter proved that it is the dedication level and patience that ultimately matter as he enjoyed a dream 2021/22 season for Kerala with three consecutive centuries under his belt.  The Palakkad cricketer amassed 417 runs from four innings averaging 139 and a phenomenal strike rate of close to 90 (89.66) and is also the first Kerala player to score three straight Ranji Trophy tons.

In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Rohan shares his experience of having represented Kerala in nearly all age-group levels, his passion to take up the game, the guidance of the current India head coach Rahul Dravid as well as Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning coach Dav Whatmore, etc.

Here are the excerpts from Rohan Kunnummal’s interview:

1. You have played for Kerala in almost every age group. Can you throw light on your early cricketing journey?

Yes, I had the privilege of playing for the state in all categories, except for one year, in which I was not selected for the under-16 team. This exclusion made me concentrate more on my play in order to make a comeback. It made me more responsible and focused.  I was advised to start preparing for the under-25 category when I was just 15 by Sri. Sanil Chandran, the then secretary of Kozhikode District Cricket Association. That has helped me to gain confidence and focus on my goal.

2. When did you exactly decide that you wanted to become a cricketer? What was your parents’ or family’s reaction to it?

I have had a passion for the game since my childhood. I had the privilege of playing for the state under-14 category when I was 13 and at that point in time, I made a decision to take cricket as my passion. My dad was my motivator, friend, and guide in my game. He accompanied me to all my training camps and made vital suggestions to improve my game. I had great support from my family: Mom, grandfather, uncle as well as my teachers and friends. I was shaped by all of them.

3. You were a part of the U19 squad that was coached by Rahul Dravid. What impact has he made on your game? Have you still stayed in touch with him?

Rahul Dravid was a great inspiration and the one and half months’ time that I spent with him made me understand that I need to be on the ground even when I soar to heights. He is accessible at any point in time, free to interact, cool, and composed. He had answers to all questions from his own prolonged experience. He gave me tips to fine-tune myself which was so beneficial to me in my later career.

4. Your experience working with Dav Whatmore in Kerala set up?

I was fortunate to be associated with such a legendary figure, who was instrumental in making the team lift the World Cup. He was simple and provided tips to maintain my composure during the innings and reminded me of keeping my temperament under control.

5. You recently became the first player from Kerala to score three back-to-back tons in Ranji Trophy. Were you aware of the record and how has it been since then with all the accolades following?

I never thought of any record or personal achievement. When I went out to bat for the third innings, I had only one focus and that was to lead the team to victory. Even my century was a part of it only. In fact, the entire team was bent on victory and I am happy that I could play a part in it.

6. Sanju Samson is one of the top cricketers in Kerala. Have you discussed anything about your batting with him? Any suggestions or tips he has given to you?

Sanju Samson was my greatest inspiration in the nets and in the ground. I had a number of discussions with him on my batting, and I was fortunate to be associated with him. He is not only accessible round the clock but replies to all queries. I am lucky to have such a player by my side.

7. Your favorite former and current Indian cricketer and why?

It is none other than Sachin Tendulkar. He was the hero when I was a child and when I began my career. My passion for the game was set by legends like him. In the present day, I like Virat Kohli, especially his attitude towards winning the game.

8. Red-ball cricket wasn’t played at all due to the pandemic. How did you work on your skills specifically for the Ranji Trophy?

I had not made any particular preparations for the red-ball cricket, but I paid attention to improvising my attitude to the game more than my skills. Maybe, I focused on shaping my approach to a game like Ranji Trophy, especially its format. I worked on my mindset and attitude rather than skills and how to apply them to my game. Furthermore, I focused on fitness under the efficient trainer Vysakh Krishna.

9. Any of your U19 teammates you are still in touch with?

My contacts with them are quite limited, except the Goan pace bowler, Herem Parek, and Kerala players like Sijo and Darrell.

Your favorite format? Test, ODI, or T20I and why?

It’s ODI where I can play naturally. It allows space for me to settle and play.

10. You were selected in the India U19 squad for the youth ODI series against England U19 but later you had to miss out as BCCI decided to let only those players who would be eligible to play the 2018 U19 Cricket WC to take part in the series. What was your reaction that time?

I was in tears when I heard the news of selection, though I played well on the previous day, making a contribution of 40 runs in the victory. The decision made me depressed, but my dad had great confidence in me and said what is in store for me will definitely happen. Then the news of the visit of the England team was announced and I was fortunate to represent our country.

11. You were initially trained by your father, what was his advice to you?

My father always asked me to dream big. He was the first to fill me with confidence. He was my role model in character, especially when making courteous behavior with everyone. He has bowled thousands of balls to me, there are days when he bowled 300 to 500 balls. He has asked me to focus on fielding as well. He was always positive and was my pillow in times of trouble and depression. He advised me not to fall prey to bad habits that might adversely affect my career.

12. If given a chance, which IPL team would you like to represent?

Definitely. I would like to play for Mumbai Indians if given a chance.

13. You have represented Kerala in U14, U16, U19, and U25 competitions, who is your closest teammate?

Salman, Vishnu Vinod, Akhil Anil, Athif, trainer Vysakh, to name a few are my closest teammates.

14. Who was your cricketing idol growing up?

Sachin Tendulkar, obviously. I also admire Suresh Raina, who happened to be a great inspiration for me.

15. Challenges you faced in red-ball cricket?

I had to shift my natural playing style at times to suit the needs of my team and it has created certain challenges for me to adapt to the situations.

Former England pacer Ryan Sidebottom might not have played a lot at the international level. However, he still managed to leave a significant mark. The left-arm fast bowler was able to move the ball both ways and that too at a rapid pace. Sidebottom showcased his brilliance in England colours as well and delivered several match-winning spells. In fact, he played an instrumental role in England’s 2010 T20 World Cup triumph.

Overall, Sidebottom played 65 matches across all formats in international cricket and scalped 131 wickets. He also managed to get into the top 10 ICC bowling rankings in Tests and T20Is. While he announced international retirement in 2010, the pacer continued to wreck havoc in County cricket. Having taken over 750 wickets in First-Class cricket, Sidebottom is among the finest pacers to have served Yorkshire.

In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Sidebottom opened about many things and made some interesting revelations as well. From shedding light on England’s 2010 T20 World Cup triumph to giving his take on Three Lions’ struggle in the longest format lately, let’s look at how the former pacer responded to our queries.

Here are the excerpts from Ryan Sidebottom’s interview:

You recently played in Legend League Cricket. How was your experience while playing in that league?

I just want to say thank you to the fans. I really enjoyed the tournament. It was brilliant to be a part of Legend League Cricket and to win it is obviously nice, especially after being retired. It was overall a great tournament as you get to play with the likes of Brett Lee and Kevin Pietersen, you play against (Sanath) Jayasuriya and some absolute superstars of the game.

Hopefully, it will be around for many more years to come. It was very special as there were some of my heroes at the tournament. There were Wasim Akram, Chaminda Vaas – both left armers. So, it was wonderful and I enjoyed every minute.

What do you think is the reason behind England’s poor form in Test cricket lately?  

I feel the schedule is not ideal in terms of preparation for England. You have the County Championship at the start of the year where the wickets are green and wet, the weather is not great. You get the same scenario in the backend of the year. So, there’s a discontinuity in the schedule which needs to be looked at. (ECB needs) to allow England players to play red-ball cricket on regular basis which will help them in becoming a better side. So, I think it boils down to schedule and players wanting to play Test cricket and not just white-ball cricket.

Pitches in county cricket have come under immense criticism. You played the tournament till 2017. What do think can be to improve the pitches?

I believe the onus is on the groundsmen and the county teams to solve the wickets out. Yes, you are playing with the Dukes ball which seams and swings around but you also want good wickets where the ball also carries. So, if you bowl well, you get edges which carry to slips. At the same time, if you bat well, you get value for runs. So, there should be good cricket wickets and not just green tracks where teams get 150 all-out.

You were the highest wicket-taker for England along with Graeme Swann with 10 wickets in England’s 2010 T20 World Cup title. How did you feel about helping your country in winning the first global title?

It was such an amazing feeling. We stepped into the tournament as underdogs, we eluded our style of cricket and there was no fear of failure. It was exciting as it was the first time England sort of entertained and been such an attacking side. So, it was brilliant to be a part of that team and also to contribute and take wickets. It obviously helps in making the team win. So, to win a global tournament, which doesn’t happens quite happen, and to be a part of history is something I’ll always cherish forever.

What is your opinion about the treatment that England and Australia’s head coaches have received recently?

There are a lot things in papers and things written about this situation. I am sure not all of that is true and it’s not ideal. These things happen in sports. You got to move on, a new coach will come in and it’s just about being good people and treating people with respect.

Who do you think should be the next head coach of the England team?

I feel this should go down to the overseas root. They might have (separate) coaches for Test and white-ball cricket. Someone like Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie, Michael Di Venuto, there are many names who can be ideal to take England cricket forward.

How do you rate England’s performance in the T20I Series against West Indies?

It was bit of mixed bag. I think England tried to bring some new players into the team and make them feel comfortable in the environment. They played ok. They didn’t play as well as I thought (they should have). However, West Indies were brilliant. They played some fantastic cricket. If we talk about both sides, West Indies were better overall.

Mickey Arthur recently said that ECB should stop sending England players in IPL to improve their performance in Test. What are you views on it?

There are various opinions around English cricket that might be looked it. However, there are many reasons (behind England’s poor run in Tests). It’s just not down to the players participating in IPL. Indian players do well in Test cricket. So, that’s Mickey Arthur’s opinion. I personally love seeing England players in IPL. It’s a great experience, huge exposure and you are playing in arguably the best tournament in the world in terms of cricket. So, IPL is wonderful and you would want your best England players participating in the tournament.

India’s cricketing future looks bright with the country producing one rising star after another. Among those is left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar, who’s expected to go a long way. The 18-year-old fast bowler was instrumental in taking India to the Under-19 World Cup triumph this year. Ravi took 10 wickets in just six games in the competition, including a four-wicket haul against England in the final clash.

With Ravi producing such a sensational show in the mega event, he would have fetched a substantial amount in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction. However, as he was below 19 and hadn’t played First-Class or List-A cricket at the time of the auction, the pacer wasn’t eligible to take part in the bidding event. Nonetheless, he was fast-tracked into Bengal’s squad for the ongoing Ranji Trophy season and expectations are high from him.

In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Ravi opened about many things and made some interesting revelations as well. From shedding light on his U19 World Cup stint to his banter with Virat Kohli, let’s look at how the star pacer responded to our queries.

Here are the excerpts from Ravi Kumar’s interview:

After a successful World Cup journey now, you’ll get to rub shoulders with some big names in the Bengal Ranji squad. How you are looking forward to this season?

I have just got selected in Ranji Trophy. As this is my maiden season, there are less chances of me getting a place in the playing XI in initial matches. After all, there are many senior players in the squad. So, I first need to impress the coaches at nets. I’ll try my best to make a mark this season.

Who’s your dream wicket at the moment?

Ans – MS Dhoni

What’s the story behind your banter with Virat Kohli when he came to address the team?

When were interacting with Virat bhaiya over a video call a day before the U19 World Cup final, everyone had their questions. So, as a bowler, I came up with a question and he made a funny response. I asked him what’s your weakness and how you handle it? Then Virat bhaiya replied: “Already started planning to get me out (laughs)?’

The current scarcity in left-arm pace department is quite disappointing in India. Do you think you can fill that void in the senior team?

Yes, they are not my options if you talk about the left-arm pacers. So, I’ll try my best to earn a place in the Indian team. In order to do that, I am focusing on Ranji Trophy as of now. I’ll try to do well there to get chances at the highest level.

Tell us about the post match scenes after winning the world cup

We thought about doing many things but didn’t get to do it. As were short of time, we created a lively atmosphere in the dressing room and celebrated. We hardly had 10 minutes. So, we did whatever we could in that period and then, left for hotel.

You bagged 4 wickets in the final match…Walk us through that experience

I got to learn a lot ahead of the final. When we stepped onto the field for the summit, everyone had a positive mindset of doing well. We didn’t take any pressure and expressed our natural game on the ground. I personally had the mindset of giving my team maximum breakthroughs and I did that. So, it boosted the morale of the side and all the bowlers did well.

What was the mood in the camp after the Covid setback? How did you all manage to keep the belief of winning the tournament intact?

No doubt that was a tough time but VVS (Laxman) Sir, Hrishikesh (Kanitkar) Sir and all other coaches were there. Everyone maintained a positive atmosphere in the dressing room. There were no negative thoughts and they gave us very less time to worry about it. We didn’t even get to know when (some of the) players returned with positive tests. We got the news only at the time of the match.

So, the schedule was busy and we were just focusing on cricket. There were also many players in the team who kept the morale high. Owing to our unity and team bonding, we managed to do well.

What would be your all-time playing XI?

Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mitchell Starc

Gone are those days when India was accused of not producing tearaway fast bowlers. The current set-up has many pacers who can set the speed gun on fire and trouble the best of the batters. Among those is Umran Malik, who’s seen as the next big thing in Indian cricket. Hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, Malik belongs to the rare breed of speed merchants, who can clock 150 kmph on a consistent basis.

He burst onto the scenes in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, where he made his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Notably, Umran wasn’t in the initial squad and only came as a short-term replacement for injured pacer T Natarajan. After getting knocked out of the playoff race, SRH management decided to give their benched players a go and, Malik made full use of the opportunity.

He left the cricket world stunned with his fiery bowling and earned praises from different corners. He, in fact, clocked 152.95 kmph in a game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, the fastest delivery by an Indian in the tournament’s history. His blitzes made SRH retain him for INR 4 crore ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction. Notably, this gem was unearthed by none other than former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who served Jammu and Kashmir cricket team as a player-cum mentor for a brief period.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Umran opened about many things and made some interesting revelations as well. From shredding light on his stint with SRH to Irfan’s influence on his career, let’s look at how the star pacer responded to our queries.

Here are the excerpts Umran Malik’s interview:

What has been Irfan Pathan’s influence on your development as a pacer?

When Irfan bhai started his stint with Jammu and Kashmir, he saw me bowling at nets. He then helped me a lot to improve my skills. I used to send him my videos and he was regularly giving regular feedbacks on what I am doing right or wrong. So, his contribution in my career has been massive.

How was your experience playing for India A team on South Africa tour?

It was my first tour and I learnt a lot from there by playing matches.

Things have happened fast ever since you made your IPL debut for SRH last season. Have you been able to sit and catch a breathe to enjoy everything?

I haven’t got much time (to grasp things in). From the last couple of years, I was working really hard to get the opportunity to play for Jammu and Kashmir. I was determined to do well in whatever chances I’ll receive. From god’s grace, I got it (success) pretty quickly and now, I want to represent India as soon as possible.

You were retained ahead of some other big players in SRH for IPL 2022, how did you feel about it?

I was feeling very proud as among so many big players, they retained me, (Abdul) Samad bhai and Kane Williamson was retained. It’s a huge honour for me as I had played just three matches in my first IPL season. So, I thank god for this.

The most important thing you learned during the stint with Indian side as net bowler in the T20 World Cup?

When I was with the Indian team as a net bowler, I learnt how to operate in tandem with prominent fast bowlers. I was asking regularly from the likes of (Mohammed) Shami, (Jasprit) Bumrah and Bhvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar). Then they used to tell me how the dynamics work.

Many have compared your bowling style to Dale Steyn, what do you think of that comparison? And are you looking forward to working with him for SRH?

He has been a great fast bowler. He is our (SRH’s) bowling huge and I am looking forward to learn a lot of things from him. It will be a huge honour working with him. As far as comparisons are concerned, I feel extremely proud as he has been the top-ranked fast bowler. So, I feel very happy.