Related Links

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.

Top of the Page