FREE HIT - An IPL 2020 talk show with Boria Majumdar: Former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha
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00:00What is it different with MS Thoni that he will handle this crisis better?
00:04What is it that people have so much faith in MS Thoni? You've been part of his team playing, you know
00:09All forms of the game with him. Give me a give me an understanding of it
00:18Hello and welcome to this edition of free hit on gulf news and today my guest is a
00:23purple cap winner of the IPL in the past and
00:27Someone who is now a leading commentator one of India's best
00:31left-arm spinners who has played a very very important role in the IPL campaigns for his teams and
00:38More importantly someone I consider a very very close friend. Welcome to the show Pragyan Ojha
00:44Pragyan IPL is finally on us months of debate argument
00:50Discussion you me will it happen won't it happen all of that? Tell me how happy are you?
00:55How much you are looking forward to this competition first of all Buryada, I'd like to thank you for a
01:02lovely introduction
01:05And I must say the way you present everyone like right from the legends to
01:11a normal player
01:12It really feels special saying that I will come back to the topic everybody all over the world. I feel they are looking up to
01:21IPL and you know any tournament that you see especially the t20 leagues and all it's straightaway
01:29You know, they have this
01:32Comparison because you know IPL has
01:36Reached a stage where it has become the benchmark
01:39And I feel everybody is really looking forward to it your take Pragyan on on this whole CSK issue. I mean
01:4713 cases but having said that I mean every league and I've asked this question of a couple of players
01:52Every league at this time of restart have had issues and it is only normal with a virus like this
01:58Which is very contagious if you deal with it and isolate trace track test, you can have bio bubbles
02:05We've now seen England West Indies. We've seen England Pakistan. We have seen the CPL. We have seen the the football league
02:11So it can be done. So there are templates in front of us
02:14So, do you think this is just one of those aberrations and things will get okay going forward
02:19Which is what I feel and the second question to it is do you think this will impact the Chennai Super Kings preparation?
02:26First of all, we had a gap of around six to seven months now
02:31Everybody wants cricket our priority should be going onto the field and playing the sport. We should make every possible
02:40Thing happen so that we go on to the field and play
02:44That is what should be our priority saying that I believe, you know, small hiccups are there, but everywhere it is there
02:51It's not only in cricket any sports. They have challenges any any form of life, you know, you see you have challenges
02:59So I feel our priority should be you know
03:03Going there and starting the tournament and start playing start practicing. That is what will change a lot of things
03:09And I know like, you know, CSK had a rough start, you know, especially with those news
03:17Which none of the team wants to start with. But I know they have a very strong leader and a very strong core team
03:29They will definitely come out of it. And I don't know what exactly has happened with Raina for some personal reason
03:36He's stepped back and he's come home. They will feel the loss, but saying that I believe, you know, MSD is so experienced that, you know, he's got that capability of handling things
03:55And especially during situations where, you know, things are not in your control
04:02So this once again brings the attention back on MS Dhoni, isn't it?
04:05He's done it all. But now this is a very different one. Suresh Raina walking back, going home and I respect his personal reasons
04:12I mean, each of us have to take our own individual situations in consideration
04:17He's got two young children, a family to go back to. There are issues, you know, of mental health around the world
04:23But for MS Dhoni, this is a very different challenge. I mean, not the best preparation
04:28But if he can once again inspire his team from here on, it will add to the MS Dhoni legacy
04:33Definitely. Without even doubting that. Bureda, you know, I believe in cricket, especially when you're talking about Indian cricket
04:41You cannot leave the Kapil Devs, the Sunil Gavaskars, the Sourav Gangulis, the Sachin Tendulkars, the MS Dhonis
04:50You cannot leave them. Anywhere they're involved, you will always look back. Okay, we have got these guys. They are there. You know, they are the pillars
04:59So I believe, you know, every time there is some crisis, if we have Dada, like right now we have Dada as VCCA president
05:07So everybody believes because, you know, Dada is known for that. Whenever there is something, you know, which we believe is like a kind of a crisis or something
05:17Okay, we have Dada. Dada can handle it. Same goes with MSD. You know, when we talk about CSK, things are not falling into place
05:25Then we know, okay, MSD is there. MSD is there and he's very much capable of handling things
05:31So Pragya, you've played with him. I mean, can you tell me that if there is a crisis, give me a sneak peek and an understanding
05:37So, for example, this crisis, what is it different with MS Dhoni that he will handle this crisis better?
05:43What is it that people have so much faith in MS Dhoni? You've been part of his team, playing, you know, all forms of the game with him
05:50Give me an understanding of it
05:52It's more to do with mental strength that he has. Everything he, like, absorbs and, you know, he doesn't let it reflect
06:02So that, you know, the whole team is not disturbed. Anything happens, he just keeps it to himself
06:09And only to the person who is making or getting affected. And that's the way he's been dealing
06:16You know, when he became captain, we had legends of the game in one side. And the other side, he had young cricketers like me, Rohit, Virat
06:26So the way he was handling, that was remarkable. And, you know, at times, you cannot, as a captain, cannot go straight away and talk your heart out to someone like VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid
06:42Then when it comes to youngsters, you have to make sure, you know, they are, you know, well taken care and they're under the radar
06:50So that, you know, when you're playing for the country, sometimes you get excited or maybe get carried away
06:55So he is a good man-management. He's got good man-management skills. He's got that strength of, you know, analysing things
07:05And, you know, keeping those unwanted things to himself and dealing with it personally, rather than, you know, letting it out to the team and, you know, pressing the panic button
07:18Coming to a different question, I mean, in terms of spin, a lot of people tell me that Dubai will help spin, Sharjah will help spin, Abu Dhabi
07:27From the perspective of your cohort, Ravi Ashwin, I mean, you know, Ravi Ashwin was India's leading spinner. Now, soon after, will, you know, be the Australia series
07:37How important is this IPL for Ravi Ashwin, for someone like a Kuldeep Yadav, who in that Sydney Test match was brilliant, but thereafter, again, has lost a bit of sting and form
07:49You know, from the perspective of… Because India will soon after go to Australia. So your thoughts on how important spin will be in this IPL
07:56And to single out our national team spinners, Ash, Jaddu and Kuldeep, because they are all supposed to go to Australia soon after
08:03Yes, this IPL is crucial for everyone. Everyone. Because after a gap of six months, we are playing and it is very important that we get back to our forms
08:15You know that we need to have that cricket fitness. Normally, we do a lot of training and we do a lot of fitness outside the field
08:27But cricket fitness is very important, I feel. And to get that, you need to play a lot of matches. So, it is very important. And saying that, you know, when we are playing in Dubai, Abu Dhabi
08:39Apart from Sarja, those two grounds are bigger. Everybody is saying there will be help for the spinners. But I feel, you know, there is no cricket from past six, seven months
08:50So we have to see how the wicket behaves. Maybe later half, there will be a little bit of help for the spinners. But the biggest plus point here would be, they have got bigger boundaries
09:02So, spinners will have some cushion. Saying that, you know, India's tour of Australia is coming up. I believe everyone who are thinking of being a part of that team
09:17Will take this IPL very seriously and try and prepare themselves. But not thinking of the Australia series. But thinking of the matches that they are getting and to win. To get back that rhythm. That would be more important.
09:32If I extend that question to somebody like a say, Kale, Rahul or a Shreyas or even a Rishabh. I mean, all of a sudden, Rishabh and Kale are competing for that white ball spot.
09:41Kale has almost taken a leap. But Kale, I am sure, wants to come back, from my conversations with him, into the Test team. Shreyas wants a breakthrough into the Test team.
09:50Because he has had a good white ball season. So for all of these players, this IPL, I think, is perhaps one of the most important tournaments of their career. Will you agree?
10:00Definitely. Without a doubt. Because we don't have any cricket right now. And our domestic season is going to start very late now. Because of the pandemic and because of the IPL that is going to happen now.
10:13It is very important that we start playing cricket and start getting into that match fitness. Kale Rahul is a solid player. When you talk about his skills, he is absolutely there.
10:29It is all about application now. Shreyas has shown a lot of promise. Maybe the selectors, they can look into his style of batting.
10:42Australia is always a series where you take a little longer team. Instead of 15 players, you go for 16-17 players.
11:00This year, in any case, they will go with 22-23 because of the pandemic and because of the ICC allowance for backups and all of that.
11:09Yeah, exactly. That's why I was coming, Boyata. But Rishabh, in Test cricket, I don't know. I personally feel it should be Riddhiman Shah. Because he is outstanding.
11:21And he has done everything to deserve a place. In New Zealand also, we all felt it was Riddhiman who was supposed to play. I don't know. I am an old-school guy.
11:34I believe you should have someone who has got the mastery. You cannot have someone, okay, in our line-up, we don't have a left-hander, so we are playing Rishabh. It cannot be that way.
11:45I feel it should be always the guy who is best suitable for the team, he should be playing.
11:52My final two questions before I let you go, Pragyan. One, you will also travel, is what I am being told. You will move base from Hyderabad to Delhi to commentate, to be part of the IPL.
12:02You will have lots of media work. Are you apprehensive? Because I am sure you have also been under lockdown for the longest period.
12:08This will be a very different media setup for you also. I mean, for the fraternity, it is not only about the players, or for example, our colleagues at Gulf News, who are putting this show for you, you know, free hit.
12:20Again, I mean, they are also having to come to office, come work from home to a degree. This is a different world. We are trying to work in a new normal. How are you looking at things from a purely personal standpoint?
12:31Personally, everybody, you know, everybody, they will be little, you know, this, as you said, it's a new normal. We have to, you know, take precautions. We have to, whenever we are travelling anywhere, we should make sure, wherever we are, you know, we should be taking care of ourselves and the people around us.
12:52Saying that, you know, but as there's a famous saying, you know, show must go on. Like, you know, everybody has a purpose in life. So for last six months, everything was halted, like everything was literally standstill. So now things are slowly moving.
13:08Maybe we need to little open out our mind and move ahead and start doing, like, you know, England set an example by, you know, starting the series against West Indies. They were there. So now it's time we should move on. Only thing is that we should make sure we are in a, you know, in a secure place and nothing unnecessary or silly.
13:36Basically, what you're trying to tell me is corrections, yes. Negatives, no.
13:40Yeah, very true. Very true.
13:43You know, we have to move on.
13:45Yeah, absolutely. I agree with you. I agree with you because livelihoods going away from us, each of us are going mad. I mean, you know, the economy collapsing is a very negative environment. And in that sense, the IPL is a breath of fresh air. I mean, you know, it will sustain us. It will bring optimism and positivity.
14:03Finally, coming to the question of Virat Pragyan. One, if you have to pick a favourite team this year, what's that? And number two, what will this mean for Virat Kohli? I mean, I was reading where he said, you know, the cover drive happened and the net session was far better than he expected because he did a lot of fitness drills. And then he will captain Indian team to Australia. What will this mean for India's captain? And if I were to put you in the hot seat and say, what's your thoughts on the IPL in terms of, you know, teams, what will you say?
14:29It's always my favourites since IPL started was CSK and MI. I always feel they offer something different. The brand of cricket they play is superb. They exactly know how to play in crucial matches and big game players they have.
14:49Saying that, Virat Kohli, batsman, without a doubt. But Virat Kohli, captain in IPL, if you see the record, you know, he needs to be there. That's what, you know, the stats. When you see the stats, you always feel, you know, he is a complete batsman. There is no question about him. But, you know, end of the day, when you are the captain, you need to…
15:15You think this can be his year?
15:16Obviously. Without a doubt, you know, he is a very positive guy. You know, he always believes in, you know, taking the charge, leading from the front, setting example. It's just a matter of time. But he has to deliver now. It's been so long, you know, being a captain of a franchisee side and not winning the trophy.
15:38So, maybe he will be thinking about it. But same, Virat Kohli, when he is leading Indian team, he has given a lot of results. So, we need to know what is happening, you know, as a well-wisher, as a sportsperson myself. Sometimes it's very confusing, you know, when you see someone doing really well for the country and then as a captain, not as a player.
16:06Doing so well for the country and then when it's about the franchisee cricket, then still he has to achieve.
16:13That's a very, very good point. In fact, I am thinking of Jason Holder. I mean, doing extremely well for the West Indies. And look at what he has been doing in the CPL this year. I mean, Barbados was just struggling and some of the decisions have been baffling.
16:25But maybe that's what franchise cricket and international cricket does to you. Pragya Moja, I wish you all the very best. You have been a superstar as always. I hope there is more work that you and I will do together for Gulf News. That's the plan as the IPL progresses. I hope to get you back on this show and there is plenty more. So, stay safe. Do great work and great to connect with you. Thank you very much for coming on the field.
16:47You too. You too, Bureda. Take care.