The Rediff Interview/ Sanjay Bangar

'I am yet to establish myself in the team'

Ashish Magotra

It was another day at the Railway ground in Mumbai. Aspiring players at the nets were going through the routine exercises. Among them was Sanjay Bangar, who performed with distinction on the recent tour of England, preparing for the home series against the West Indies.

As I watched, a man came and sat next to me. He asked me whether I was a cricketer.

"I am here to meet Bangar," I replied.

'Bangar who?' he asked.

It was only after a lot of explanation that I managed to convince the man that Bangar is a new face in the Indian Test team.

After the nets session was over, I got down to chatting with Bangar. Relaxed, unassuming, but not afraid to speak his mind, he was, indeed, a revelation.

How did it all start?

I studied in Aurangabad. So in 1987, I attended a cricket coaching camp, organized by the Pioneer Cricket Club; the coach was Vasant Ambladi, a veteran coach who had come in from Mumbai. So I attended his camp and that is where I learnt the basics of the game. That is how it really started.

Basics? Were you not always a cricket player?

I always was a cricket player, but he taught us the basics... backfoot defence, frontfoot defence, how to take a stance -- in a very easy and correct way. And after that I continued playing some club cricket in Aurangabad, and in 1988 I went for the Maharastra under-15 trials and got selected there. That was my first big step, really! I went to Pune and played for the under-15 team for one season.

After that we came back and my coach in Aurangabad said since there are not enough facilities in Aurangabad I should probably go to Mumbai and hone my skills there. So my father, a government officer, took a transfer to Mumbai for my sake. Then I started going to Shivaji Park Gymkhana; that's how I came to Mumbai. From then on it’s been hard work throughout.

Were you ever tried out for the Mumbai team, or was it straight for the Railways?

I played for the Mumbai under-19 side for two season, 1991 and 1992, and that was pretty strong side. Mayur Kadrekar, Deepraj Kelkar, Abhijit Kale, Amol Muzumdar, Paras Mhambery, Sairaj Bahutule, all of them we are from the same batch. It was a good learning experience from me. I also played for the West Zone under-19 and Mumbai University teams. In fact, I learnt all my cricket in Mumbai, but in 1993, after I had finished my graduation, I was nowhere near playing for the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team. I mean, I was not good enough at that time.

So a friend, Pradeep Jhadav, recommended I join the Railways and try to play for their Ranji Trophy team. That’s how I joined Western Railway, in 1993.

So have you always known your limits? When you are young, you always aim high but you are saying 'I was not good enough at that time...'

One always gives things his best shot. But if you see things realistically then it is always better than banging your head against a wall. At that time, I didn't have enough performances to back me up and also I was never part of the Ranji probables. But if you see in retrospect, it turned out to be a brilliant move for me.

Do you see it all as being worth the wait? You've slogged so hard, so many years in the Ranji trophy?

Yes, actually, since Railways was not as strong a side as they are now. That made us realise that we have to work doubly hard to earn every point. Those were the hard lessons for us. But that has helped me quite a lot. To undertake responsibilities and be a part of the team, these things do count. Ultimately, since this is a team game, it helps.

What do you see your role in the team as? As an all-rounder, a bowler, an opening batsman or is it a combination of all?

No, I have always been what I am. It’s not that just two-three years back I have started to open the innings or just started to bowl medium pace. Ever since 1995-96, when I was a regular in the Ranji team, I have been opening the batting and bowling first change. So that has been my role and I have always stuck to that.

While bowling for the Railways, I am sure you must be more of a strike bowler than a stock bowler that you are for the Indian team. So how do you adapt to those roles?

The Central Zone wickets are very flat tracks with low bounce. You have maintain your discipline; you cannot just run through a side i.e. take a 5-for in 10 overs. So even there, it is a lot of hard work. You have bowl 20 overs in a day and be happy with 2-3 wickets at the end of it. So that got me the necessary discipline of line and length.

The entire team was invited to meet Geoffery Boycott before the Headingley Test. Any special inputs you guys received?

We were all very glad to go there because he is such a legend and a knowledgeable cricket brain. It was not only for that aspect but also because he had given us respect and we had to reciprocate. He did mention a couple of things: You have to have discipline while bowling and you cannot afford to go at 4-5 an over because then you don’t put any pressure on the batsman. Even If you bowl a very good ball, then the batsman somehow manages because he always knows there is a four-ball on the way. It worked out for us.

And then came Headingley. You were drafted into the side ahead of S S Das, who had just scored a double century. Were you really expecting yourself to get in?

I always knew Headingley would be my best bet to get into the team. That was because I thought my bowling would be suited to the conditions prevalent there. It is only because of my bowling that I got a chance to play that Test. And I feel really sorry for Das because he is a good mate and I also know that he had realized that his chance was gone only because he doesn't bowl.

When you saw Virender Sehwag get out early, how did it affect you? Did you think you were next in line?

At the international level, if somebody gets out, or if somebody walks in, it's not anything special. That guy is not going to bat for you. You have to bat for yourself. So it doesn't really matter whether it's one down or two down. I just play my normal game. I concentrate to do things I do best.

How would you best describe your batting? Are you a stone-waller -- a guy who just loves to defend and wear down the bowling. You have played attacking innings, like the one against Zimbabwe where you got your first Test century...

In the match against Zimbabwe, we had special instructions that we would be going for a declaration, which is why I batted that way. In Test matches the role of an opener is to see through the new ball, bat till the end of the first session and after that build on his own innings. But sadly, those things seem to be getting out of fashion. But I would love to do the grafting part since we have so many stroke-makers to follow. That is the requirement and I would love to fulfill that role.

So are you going to be working on your technique as an opener? We have a lot of tours coming up, any particular things you have in your mind?

Yes, obviously, I do have a couple of things on my mind. You always look to improve your game. Senior players and coaches have given certain inputs to me and I am trying to work out how that can best be adapted to my game, rather than change my game or my technique.

Even the great players maintain that technique cannot be changed after you are 16-17 years; you develop it when you are under-14/under-15 and after that you just add to it. You develop your own game and temperament. It really is the discipline and the temperament that one has to work on.

You look at this Indian team and it has so many superstars. You have Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. Even Virender Sehwag, who is a relative new-comer, has come out with such a bang. How does it feel being in the Indian team? Do you feel lost at times?

I have never looked upon myself as a newcomer who has just walked into the team. I am really very proud to wear that India cap and you never know when you are going to play your next Test or ODI. It’s just that whenever you walk in, you go there with a point to prove; with a determination to do well and it doesn’t happen always; but that’s that way things are. Obviously, having so many experienced players in the side helps, but everyone has a role to play in the team. If any of the eleven players fail to perform their role it affects the team. So whether it is a newcomer or a senior player it doesn’t matter.

Do you think in England we missed the services of the Javagal Srinath in the Tests?

I really can't comment on that. Zaheer Khan bowled exceptionally.

You have had these critics who always seem to talk about your limited talent. But everytime you somehow seem to prove them wrong. Does it give you a special pleasure?

Everybody has the right to his/her opinion, but only if he has a point or a certain base. I always try and find out the reason behind what someone says about me and try and work on correcting that.

When you look at your bowling, it is very similar to that of Glen McGrath, consistently in the so-called 'corridor-of-uncertainty'. But McGrath, because of his great height, also gets disconcerting bounce, which is an ability you lack. Do you plan to add that to your bowling?

I am working on adding various kinds of slower balls, offies and back of the hand stuff to my bowling armoury, but at the moment I am not working on that as the current cricket season is going on and I am looking forward to the Test series against the West Indies.

Where do one-day internationals stand in your agenda?

The team management has shown a lot of faith in me and I feel if I deliver in the coming series probably I would get my chance in the one-dayers as well. There I would have to bat lower down, but one can always adapt.

Any immediate goals that you are looking at?

I don’t make any plans, because somehow I am not comfortable making them. I am very relaxed.

So, basically, you love to work in chaos?

(Grinning) Yes, I like it that way.

When I was trying to contact you, I called up the Railway Sports Control Board and heard this guy in the background talk about how you have been playing Ranji Trophy for so many years. He was sure that you would finally get your opportunity. There is a lot of goodwill around for you.

I have been fortunate. Since I played for Railways I have travelled all over the country and played along with people from all regions as opposed to playing from a particular region. I have made a lot of friends and it’s just that what you do on the cricket field isn’t all that matters. You have to grow as a person. I value my friendships and good wishes always help. I think I have plenty of backing for that.

How has this series in England helped you? Do you think it has established you?

No, no, no, I am yet to establish myself in the team. It will take me a couple of good series, really good series to say: 'yes, I am a regular now'. Until that happens, I really don’t see myself as cemented in the team.

How do you see Ganguly as a captain?

He has always shown faith in me and I feel he has always backed me. That gives me added confidence. He has played a lot of international cricket and has shown faith in my talent and you always feel that you cannot let him down. I would love to do deliver all the time and not fail him.

Ganguly always loves to give it back to the opposing teams. Are you part of the ‘Ganguly Gang’?

No, I don’t say a lot of things on the cricket field, but in my own way I try to give it back to the opposition and let them realise that we are on a cricket field playing international cricket not a club match.

John Wright, as a coach...

He has been a great help to me as well as the youngsters. He has inculcated in us the fitness aspect of the game. He works a lot on our fielding and he has made everything very organized. He has his own way of working so he lets each and every player know what is expected of him. So, in that way, he has been very good and very professional.

So what did he tell you? What does he expected of you?

He tells me what my role is as a batsman and what it is as a bowler. He says my role in the team is to bowl one line consistently so that the strike bowlers get enough rest before they can come back. As a batsman, he has always maintained that I should look to bat for three to four hours. Bat through the first session and look to bat on and on and on. That’s what he has told me and it has been very good advice.

Playing with Sachin Tendulkar... how does that feel? You were there for his hundredth Test.

Yes, somehow the importance of all these events would probably sink in after 4-5 years but it is just amazing to see him work on his cricket and the kind of inputs he gives us. The way he works, all gives it 100 per cent. On the field, while fielding or shining the ball, he always tries to help and he has been a great team man.

Does he smash you around a lot in the nets?

Yeah, he does! And I don’t feel ashamed of that because he has done that to the best of bowlers.

You made your debut for India very late [at the age of 29]. Do you see it as an advantage or disadvantage?

I always see the positive aspect of things. I think it has made me work harder and made me realise that the best things don’t always come easy; or even if it has come easy, if you have not worked hard enough they would sooner or later slip away. It’s an ongoing process; it’s not like you play for the Indian team, you play a couple of Tests for the Indian team and then you put your feet up and relax. It’s been more hard work ever since I made my debut.

Age doesn’t matter any more. It’s how you maintain your fitness levels that count. Age is no longer a barrier.

Interviews

Mail Cricket Editor