In a special chat with Team OneIndia, cricket star Mohammed Azheruddin praised the Kerala Cricket League (KCL), comparing its quality to the IPL. He expressed confidence in advancing his career after strong KCL performances and noted the low representation of Kerala players in the national team. Azheruddin highlighted the KCL as a valuable platform for talent, credited role models like Sanju Samson for inspiring young cricketers, and aims for greater batting consistency. He also values his strong cricketing family background.
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00:00This is Kerala's Muhammad Azharuddin.
00:04He has the namesake of former Indian batter and captain and the way he has been playing,
00:10the way he has performed for Kerala, he is certain to reach higher heights.
00:17Welcome Azharuddin to One India Mike Hill.
00:21This is Souradeep.
00:22So we will be discussing a lot of things today.
00:25First of all, how has it been for you for the last couple of months with the Kerala
00:29Cricket League?
00:30You are part of the team and the way you played, you were the fourth highest run score in the
00:35tournament as well.
00:36How was the experience?
00:37First time, Kerala Cricket League, how was your experience?
00:40Yeah, as you said, it was our first season of KCL.
00:45It was amazing to be frank, we never expected in such ways, but the quality of the cricket
00:53which we played and the quality of the tournament was amazing.
00:57After IPL, we haven't experienced such an amazing platform.
01:02So it was very good.
01:03Azhar, you have been part of Kerala, you are from Kasargod, you helped from Kasargod and
01:09we have seen from Kerala, not many have played for India.
01:14We have seen T.N.U.
01:15Yohanan playing for India, Sreesanth, Sanju Samson is there also, Basanthampi has been
01:20in the Indian national camp.
01:21But now the way we are seeing, lot of players from Kerala are playing in the IPL, they are
01:26performing well with the likes of Sachin Devi, Vishu, Vinod, in fact Basanthampi and
01:31others are there as well.
01:33You have been part of Royal Challenges Bangalore in the past as well.
01:38How do you see the Kerala cricket going forward in the last few years?
01:46Since 2025, I am playing for the senior team, Renji team.
01:51So Kerala cricket has changed a lot.
01:54The quality of the players and the quality of the cricket which we are playing, it has
02:00changed a lot.
02:01And it wasn't that competitive when I started playing for the Renji team, it wasn't that
02:06competitive.
02:07But the last three years especially, if you ask me, after the COVID, that competition
02:16and the mindset of the players has been changed a lot.
02:21So from now onwards, playing IPL, playing India team, I can see that lot of players
02:28from Kerala, in future definitely they are going to be in that IPL and India frame for
02:34sure because mindset has been changed a lot and the game has been changed a lot, game
02:39awareness has been changed a lot.
02:41So it wasn't like that in Kerala, to be frank.
02:44But after the COVID and all, I can see a lot of changes and definitely in future, definitely
02:50there will be a lot of India players, IPL players from Kerala for sure.
02:55And how has been the impact of Sanju Samson?
02:57You have seen him closely with the Kerala team as well.
03:00How has it been?
03:01What have you learnt from him?
03:03Yes, Sanju is very close.
03:05For me, Sanju is very close.
03:08Since under-19 we are playing together, so it's been more than 10 years.
03:12So I know him very closely and he knows me very closely as well.
03:18Yes, to be frank, if you are asking what is Kerala cricket, if you are asking, definitely
03:24Sreesanth, Sanju Bhai and Tenu Chetan, they are the frame of Kerala cricket, definitely
03:29yes.
03:30And he is influencing a lot, not only for me, like all the Kerala cricketers.
03:36We are still struggling to get into that IPL frame or India-A frame and all.
03:43But still, easily he is captaining one franchise like Rajasthan Royals.
03:48So that is something else.
03:51So he is directly and indirectly influencing a lot, like me, like other cricketers.
04:00Azhar, coming back to your performance, you have been a promising batter for Kerala.
04:05But we haven't seen you breaking into that and you have played well, but you haven't
04:11been consistent enough, if I can say that.
04:14What is the reason behind that and how are you working on that on your personal level
04:18to improve in this coming season?
04:20Yes, I agree with that, I wasn't that consistent.
04:25Maybe because of the way I am playing my cricket, I used to take a lot of risks and I used to
04:33play like that.
04:34So of course, there are some risks.
04:36So I think last two years, it has changed a lot and I have really worked on my batting.
04:45I just wanted to take that first few hours to get settled and all.
04:51So I am really working on it.
04:55My basic target in batting is like I just wanted to be more consistent.
05:00So it is very easy to say to be consistent, but it is very difficult to be consistent.
05:06So I am sure if I am working on certain areas, definitely I can be more consistent and it
05:14will definitely be effective as well.
05:16So last two years, I have been working on my batting, especially few areas I know where
05:21I wanted to work and I have worked on it.
05:24So it shows a bit consistent nowadays, especially the last one and a half years.
05:31Let me go back to a bit early days of your cricket, you were born in Kasarpur, northern
05:35part of Kerala.
05:36I think the hub of Kerala is in Cochin and Trivandrum.
05:40So how did it start for you?
05:42How did you get introduced to cricket?
05:44How did you fell in love with cricket?
05:46Yes, I am coming from a district called Kasarpur.
05:50It is a 14th district of Kerala, Karnataka border close to Mangalore.
05:56So the place is full of people who are very passionate about cricket.
06:04They might haven't played proper cricket, professional cricket, but they love cricket
06:11like tennis ball cricket, underarm cricket and all.
06:13So I am coming from such place.
06:16Of course, yes, just because of that, I got that influence and I got such a good family.
06:21I got seven elder brothers, all of them have played cricket and now three of them have
06:26been like part of Kasarpur district cricket team as well.
06:31So by family ways, I got that, this thing would call, I got that route and from district
06:37wise also I got that route and I just love to play cricket whenever I do well, whenever
06:44I get the opportunity.
06:45I always thank Kasarpur people and my family because I am very emotionally attached with
06:50that place.
06:51That's why I have chosen my J.C. number is like 14.
06:54I have just...
06:55Because of the district number?
06:56Yeah.
06:57Can you tell me what was the exact moment?
06:59Because cricket is played by billions in India, but only a few make it even into the state
07:04team because that's what you have achieved is a dream for many.
07:09What made you, what was the exact moment when you decided, okay, no, because Indian parents,
07:14they always indulge their kids to, okay, you have to study, you have to be doctor or engineer
07:19or something like that.
07:20But when did you decide that, yeah, this is my thing, I want to stick with that.
07:26And what was the support that you got from your family?
07:28You have already said you got a lot of support, but what was, when was you that decided that
07:34this was going to be my profession?
07:36Yes.
07:37To be frank, me and my friends were playing for fun in like, in Malayalam we call like
07:43Kandathil Kalikya and all.
07:45So we were, we were playing in such way.
07:48So to be frank, in 2008, KCA has started like on Cash Kerala Cricket Academies, which means
07:56Cash means Cricket Academies and Sports Hostel.
07:58So they took the initiative on 2008 and I was, I was part of that academy.
08:07So since then, things have changed, we were getting morning and evening practice session.
08:12So after that, after getting into that Cash Kerala Academy, things have changed a lot.
08:17I was getting morning and evening practice session.
08:20So after two years, 9th and 10th of my, I mean, when I was studying in on 9th standard
08:27and 10th standard, after that I have realized that yes, I got something, especially in cricket
08:32I have to do well, for that I really have to work a lot.
08:35So then after 10th, I have realized that this is my profession, I have to be good at what
08:41I am doing.
08:42Then I have played for Kerala under 19 when I was studying on 11th standard, then things
08:47has changed a lot.
08:48You started shaping up with that.
08:50Being part of Royal Chancellor's Bangalore, Virat Kohli's team, some say the most supported
08:54team in the Indian Premier League, how was the experience, what did you learn?
08:59It was really good.
09:00It was, it was like out of my, this thing, completely out of my this thing, I can't say
09:07how it was, because sharing a dressing room with Virat by Maxwell, AB and all, that was
09:14amazing.
09:15And I have learned a lot, even though I didn't play a single match, but still the experience
09:19was amazing.
09:20And as IPL mega auction is coming and all the things, how are you shaping up yourself
09:27for the things?
09:28Are you thinking about IPL or something like that?
09:31Yes.
09:32At the start of the season, you are thinking?
09:33Yes.
09:34Yes.
09:35Of course.
09:36Yes.
09:37We wanted to play.
09:38I want to play IPL.
09:39I want to play.
09:40I want to be, I want to be a part of India team.
09:41Yes.
09:42Of course.
09:43Yes.
09:44And for me, it's like outcome.
09:45If I'm really looking at it, I don't think it is going to work out.
09:50So I'm just being, I'm just keeping things very simple.
09:53I'm just looking at the process.
09:55It's a long journey.
09:56Like we have to play Ranji Trophy before the Mussaka League and all.
10:01So now is the only thing I have.
10:04So I'm just enjoying what I have right now.
10:06You have had a new coach in Amai Kurashia sir.
10:08I think this is the second day of the camp.
10:10How has it been with him?
10:11Yeah, it's good.
10:12You know, Amai Kurashia, he was a part of India team.
10:18So of course, there is something in it, right?
10:23Playing for India is not an easy thing.
10:25So of course, it's a good move from Kerala cricket and just two days I've been with him.
10:33Let's see how things go.
10:35In terms of Ranji cricket, if I say, because the format has changed of Ranji Trophy and
10:40we have seen Kerala performing well in the tournaments.
10:44But somewhere they lack, again, in the final stages or in the semi-finals or in the knockouts,
10:50Kerala lacks something.
10:52Are there have been talks within the team to change the mindset, mentality so that you
10:57can perform well in the knockout stages and further route?
11:00Yes, of course.
11:03It's been like few years, as I said, especially that after COVID, we were discussing why we
11:09are not winning Ranji Trophy.
11:11And we as a team, not as an individual, we as a team, we are really working on it.
11:16And as you said, when it comes to knockout matches, especially knockout matches, either
11:21Russagulli, Vijayazhara or Ranji, when it comes to knockout matches, there was something,
11:29there is some concern, especially for knockout matches.
11:31So we as a team, we talked a lot and we are really on it.
11:37And definitely the cup is not that far.
11:40I really wish you all the best, Azhar.
11:44Just coming into the final part of our interview, what are the things that you like to do apart
11:48from cricket?
11:49What did you like to switch off in cricket?
11:51What are the things you like?
11:53Nothing much.
11:54I just, I just spend a lot of time with my friends.
11:56You like to watch Malayalam movies?
11:58Yeah, of course.
11:59Who is your favorite actor, Azhar?
12:00Fahad Fazil.
12:01Fahad Fazil.
12:02Have you watched Kumbhalangi Nights?
12:03Of course.
12:04Sameek.
12:05Aavesham.
12:07Aavesham.
12:08That's a different, it's a different actor.
12:12And I love to drive.
12:14You love to drive.
12:15You love to, you know, you have your car and you go out sometimes, you have free time.
12:20So really wish you all the best, Azhar, for the new season.
12:22I really hope that you and along with all the Kerala players, you do well.
12:27Best of luck for your future endeavors and best of luck for you.
12:30I hope that one day you will be part of the Indian team and I hope that IPL is just around
12:35the corner for you.
12:37Thank you so much.
12:38Thank you very much.
12:39Don't miss out.
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