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A great experience: Arun Karthik
Monday, Mar 08 2010
Chennai: At 24, KB Arun Karthik is among the more talented cricketers in Tamil Nadu and has cemented his position in the State team by virtue of consistent performances, batting at the top of the order.
In 2008, his talent and potential were recognized by India Cements, the franchise owners of Chennai Super Kings and was included in the squad. Although Karthik did not get to play in any match, he gained immensely by sharing the dressing room with some of top cricketers in World cricket.
Excerpts:
Q: How do you feel being part of Chennai Super Kings?
AK: I feel great being part of the squad. It has helped me to mature as a cricketer. I gained immensely and it is a never ending process.
Q: You have not had a chance to be in the playing eleven during the last two seasons. You have one of the best of averages in domestic cricket in almost all formats of the game. Do you still nurse hoping for the day when you finally get to play in a match?
AK: The team has the best mixture of batsmen and bowlers, and every one of them picked for the playing eleven during the last two editions are more experienced than me. Yes, I am hoping to get a chance. Like many other State players in the team, I can say that Super Kings is a very good batting unit with bundle of talent. Getting a chance to bat will have to be in the slot that is going to be available. It is difficult to disturb the present set of players for a match and most of them are internationally reputed and have been performing according to expectations.
At this juncture, the chance extended to me to be in the squad itself is something great. More than this, the opportunity for me and others to be sharing the dressing room meant that all we are able to gain the best of experiences. This also counts a lot for us. Like I said, I have gained a lot following my interactions with all these senior players from different countries and the knowledge that I have gained cannot be bought with money.
Therefore, I do not consider myself as back bencher so long as I am able to upgrade myself in terms of making a career as a cricketer.
Q: Watching international cricketers from such close quarters, what goes through your mind?
AK: I only used to thank my stars that I had a chance to be closer to the action, though from the ropes. But after watching these players, I started believing in myself to the extent that I can make the national side sooner or later. IPL tournaments have opened my eyes and now I have a vision towards making the national side.
Q: Could you elaborate on your interactions with seniors in the dressing room?
AK: I was there along with the team in the second IPL in South Africa also. I have had net practice sessions along with these top stars. It actually came as a surprise to me when I was picked. I rejoiced the occasion with my parents. When I was actually part of the team both in India and South Africa it was a dream come true for me. All the top stars were willing partners in the team. I used to interact with them individually in the hotels or at the ground.
World class stars like Hayden, Hussey, Dhoni, Fleming, Makhaya Ntini and Muralitharan were really helpful in enriching my knowledge on cricket. Makhaya is now one of my close buddies. I spent lot of time in South Africa with him and it was a learning curve for me. Hayden rarely spoke on cricketing aspects but he taught me so much on the need to be mentally tough and also opened my eyes as to how I must handle tight situations while in the middle.
All of them were very receptive whenever I had asked them certain cricketing questions and batting at different levels and different pitches. Murali, for one, treated me like his own brother. He used to always address me as “Thambi”. To me, he is like a Tamil Nadu team-mate. We used to discuss in Tamil language most often. I am sure that I would not have been able to acquire knowledge if I had not been part of the team. Every one of them was helpful.
Q: Do you mean that it was a booster for you to be in the squad?
AK: Two years of experience made me believe that I belong to the next level. I used to be a member of the Hayden fan club in my younger days. I had watched the whole match as a spectator from the “D” stand at Chepauk when Hayden made a double hundred for Australia. I never dreamt of sharing the dressing room with him and also with most of the other players in the Super Kings team.
Q: A title win has been eluded Super Kings in two editions. What do you think will happen this year?
AK: We are winning the Cup this year. The Management has been very good. They have the cricketing background and they know how to create team bonding and it is truly a professional side. This is one of our best chances to win the cup.
Q: Do you adhere to any specific fitness levels for T-20?
AK: T-20 is a very fast game. Accordingly, we have batting and fielding drills and exercises to do to suit the format. It is like a basketball game. Each match throws out tight situations. We need to be at our peak both physically and mentally in T-20 matches.
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