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 Good
news for all the Balaji fans, the 23 year old is up again and is
all set to make amends for India after recovering from his
stomach injury. Balaji made a comeback into first class cricket
by playing for South Zone against West Zone at the Brand New
Visaka International Stadium in Hyderabad. The ever smiling
Balaji shared his cricketing moments with B.V.Swagath. Here's
the excerpts from the interview :
Balaji, I have a feeling that it's
easier for a raw medium pacer to make it to the Indian team than
a batsman. What are your comments on that?
Normally it is really tough to come into the Indian team. But
previously we didn't have too many medium pacers probably
because there wasn't that big cricket or it wasn't as commercial
as it is today. Today it has become very professional and medium
pacers want to do really well for their states in the first
class level and you know they are pushing hard for the spots in
the Indian team. Batsmen yes they have the hardest way to get
into the Indian team which already has the big names but I do
feel that batsmen get more chances in the team than the bowlers.
The first
time I saw you bowl a couple of years back in Hyderabad, your
action was just like Javagal Srinath's and a little bit like
Courtney Walsh's. So were you really a big fan of those two fast
bowlers?
Definitely I have been greatly inspired by the
two great bowlers. Both these fast bowlers have achieved big
targets in their career. Srinath in particular has changed the
trend of medium pacers in India, he has proved that Indian
medium pacers can also generate pace. I admire his outstanding
ability to bowl fast and extract movement off the wicket.
So are you conscious to model your
bowling action on Srinath and Walsh?
I don't know much about my action actually…I have been working
out on it for the last four years or so with Dennis Lillee.
Everything is coming out well regarding my action, the run up,
the gathering of momentum while running and delivery of the
ball, I am pleased with it. I strongly believe that if your
rhythm is good you can pick wickets and bowl well or otherwise
it's a tough job.
So how does Balaji maintain his rhythm?
You got to be cool and relaxed and shouldn't be thinking about
the pressure of performance and other things. Yeah and working
upon my bowling four times a week certainly helps to keep the
rhythm going.
You are
competing with fast bowlers like Zaheer, Pathan, Nehra, Agarkar
and many many others, so how do you fight to keep your place in
the Indian Team?
Yeah… when I made my debut all these bowlers were there and I
did manage to compete well with everyone with my performance. I
do understand that there would be competition for places and one
has to really take it in his stride and you know work really
hard and fight for his place in the Indian team. Competition
definitely brings the best out of you, so I have cherished this
competition for the pacers' spots in the Indian Team.
There was Irfan Pathan, there was Rahul
Dravid, but you walked out of Pakistan with the most number of
female hearts, what really was the reason for your success over
them?
I don't have many things to say about that but I thank the
spectators who had supported me and the Indian team. We got a
great reception and support from the Pakistani crowds and that
was really great for us.
Balaji you had to stay out of cricket
because of stomach injury, have you recovered from it 100% now?
Yeah I am gradually improving my fitness levels, it was
disappointing to have a long three and a half months lay off.
But I am back now and I am looking forward for the tough cricket
ahead and want to work on my body balance and other things with
the physio. Injuries are part and parcel of the game and you
really got to put that behind and focus on the future. Right now
I am 100% fit and I am geared up to give my best for the
country.
You had a bad debut against the West
Indies and Chris Gayle took you to the cleaners. So how did you
get back into the Indian team and recreate an impression?
I worked very hard, taking a couple of five wicket hauls in
domestic cricket helped me to get back in the Indian Team.
Actually my debut was my most memorable game as it changed me
mentally…I mean I became a stronger person in the mind and was
ready to take up the challenges and the pressures of giving good
performances for the team.
You have talked about your most
memorable ODI, now tell us about your most memorable Test Match
and your best dismissals at the international level.
Most memorable Test Match has to be the 3rd and final Test at
Rawalpindi. We won the test and with that we won the Test Series
for the first time in Pakistan and that was a great honour I
must say. I did my part by taking 7 wickets in that game. Best
dismissals were that of Ricky Ponting's. I dismissed him 4 times
out of 5 in the VB Series and Ponting being a great batsman,
it's an awesome feeling to get him out those many times.
Australian batsmen in
particular are very intimidating against the bowlers with their
powerful strokes, so what basically was your plan to contain
them?
Nowadays swing bowling has come down, if you swing the ball any
batsman can be troubled. Look at Zaheer, he swings the ball at
good speeds, so it's the movement in the air and off the wicket
that can really defeat the batsmen's strokes. That's the thing
in my mind when I bowl to such attacking batsmen. That would
definitely make the batsman to think a little bit about the
bowler.
Who was the most difficult batsman you
ever bowled to at any level?
I haven't bowled to Brain Lara. Everyone has told me that he is
the batsman to bowl at. Srinath and Kumble both had told me that
bowling to Lara is very tough and I am looking forward to that
day when I am against Lara. But I did find bowling to hard
hitters like Flintoff and others a bit hard. Inzamam is the most
difficult in Test Matches.
What are your dreams/goals as an Indian
Cricketer?
I haven't set any goals…I mean not any big ones as of now. I
just want to play for my country and give the best performances
everytime I walk into the ground. And I am capable of producing
good cricket.
Last but not the least, any message you
want to give to young fast bowlers?
Keep working hard and remember you have to face up all the
challenges and keep giving your best shot all the time. You got
to have the Never-Say-Die attitude when you play cricket.
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