In this episode of 'Free Hit', a series of exclusive video interviews with players, officials and TV pundits from the Indian Premier League, Boria Majumdar chats with former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha
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00:00What is it different with MS Dhoni that he will handle this crisis better?
00:04What is it that people have so much faith in MS Dhoni?
00:07You've been part of his team, playing all forms of the game with him.
00:12Give me an understanding of it.
00:18Hello and welcome to this edition of Free Hit on Gulf News.
00:21And today my guest is a Purple Cap winner of the IPL in the past and someone who is
00:28now a leading commentator, one of India's best left arm spinners, who has played a very
00:34very important role in the IPL campaigns for his teams.
00:38And more importantly, someone I consider a very very close friend.
00:42Welcome to the show Pragyan Ojha.
00:45Pragyan, IPL is finally on us.
00:48Months of debate, argument, discussion, you, me, will it happen, won't it happen, all
00:53of that.
00:54Tell me how happy are you?
00:56How much you are looking forward to this competition?
00:58First of all, Boryada, I'd like to thank you for a lovely introduction.
01:06And I must say, the way you present everyone, like right from the legends to a normal player,
01:13it really feels special.
01:15Saying that, I'll come back to the topic.
01:17Everybody all over the world, I feel, they are looking up to IPL.
01:22And any tournament that you see, especially the T20, leagues and all, it's straight away,
01:29they have this comparison because IPL has reached a stage where it has become the benchmark.
01:39And I feel everybody is really looking forward to it.
01:42Your take, Pragyan, on this whole CSK issue, I mean, 13 cases.
01:48But having said that, I mean, every league, and I've asked this question of a couple of
01:52players, every league at this time of restart have had issues.
01:56And it is only normal with a virus like this, which is very contagious.
02:00If 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,
02:09we have seen the football league, so it can be done.
02:13So there are templates in front of us.
02:15So do you think this is just one of those aberrations and things will get okay going forward?
02:19Which is what I feel.
02:20And 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.
02:30Now everybody wants cricket.
02:33Our priority should be going onto the field and playing the sport.
02:38We should make every possible thing happen, so that we go onto the field and play.
02:45That is what should be our priority.
02:46Saying that, I believe, small hiccups are there.
02:50But everywhere it is there.
02:52It's not only in cricket.
02:54Any sports, they have challenges.
02:56Any form of life, you see, you'll have challenges.
03:00So I feel our priority should be going there and starting the tournament and start playing,
03:06start practising.
03:07That is what will change a lot of things.
03:09And I know, CSK had a rough start, especially with those news which none of the team wants to start with.
03:21But I know they have a very strong leader and a very strong core team.
03:27They will definitely come out of it.
03:31And I don't know what exactly has happened with Raina for some personal reason.
03:36He has stepped back and he has come home.
03:39They will feel the loss.
03:43But saying that, I believe MSD is so experienced that he has got that capability of handling things.
03:55And especially during situations where things are not in your control.
04:02So this once again brings the attention back on MS Dhoni, isn't it?
04:06He has done it all.
04:06But now this is a very different one.
04:08Suresh Raina walking back, going home.
04:10And I respect his personal reasons.
04:12I mean, each of us have to take our own individual situations in consideration.
04:17He has got two young children, a family to go back to.
04:20There are issues of mental health around the world.
04:23But for MS Dhoni, this is a very different challenge.
04:26I 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.
04:33Without even doubting that.
04:35Bureda, you know, I believe in cricket.
04:38Especially when you are talking about Indian cricket.
04:40You cannot leave the Kapil Devs, the Sunil Gavaskars, the Sourav Gangulys, the Sachin Tendulkars, the MS Dhonis.
04:50You cannot leave them.
04:51Anywhere they are involved, you will always look back.
04:54Okay, we have got these guys.
04:56They are there.
04:57You know, they are the pillars.
04:59So, I believe, you know, every time there is some crisis, if we have Dada.
05:04Like right now, we have Dada as VCCA President.
05:07So, everybody believes.
05:08Because, you know, Dada is known for that.
05:11Whenever there is something, you know, which we believe is like a kind of a crisis or something.
05:17Okay, we have Dada.
05:18Dada can handle it.
05:19Same goes with MSD.
05:21You know, when we talk about CSK, things are not falling into place.
05:25Then we know, okay, MSD is there.
05:28MSD is there and he is very much capable of handling things.
05:31So Pragya, you have played with him.
05:32I 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.
05:39What 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?
05:46You have been part of his team, playing, you know, all forms of the game with him.
05:50Give me an understanding of it.
05:52It is more to do with mental strength that he has.
05:56Everything he like absorbs and he doesn't let it reflect so that the whole team is not disturbed.
06:06Anything happens, he just keeps it to himself.
06:09And only to the person who is making or getting affected.
06:14And that's the way he has been dealing.
06:16You know, when he became captain, we had legends of the game in one side.
06:21And the other side, he had young cricketers like me, Rohit, Virat.
06:26So the way he was handling, that was remarkable.
06:30And you know, at times, you cannot, as a captain, go straight away and talk your heart out to
06:38someone like VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid.
06:42Then when it comes to youngsters, you have to make sure they are well taken care and
06:49they are under the radar.
06:50So that, you know, when you are playing for the country, sometimes you get excited or
06:54maybe get carried away.
06:55So he is a good man-management, he has got good man-management skills.
07:00He has got that strength of, you know, analysing things and, you know, keeping those unwanted
07:07things to himself and dealing with it personally rather than, you know, letting it out to the
07:13team 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
07:23Dubai 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
07:32leading spinner.
07:33Now, 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
07:43Sydney test match was brilliant, but thereafter, again, has lost a bit of sting and form, you
07:49know, from the perspective of… Because India will soon after go to Australia.
07:53So your thoughts on how important spin will be in this IPL and to single out our national
07:58team spinners, Ash, Jaddu and Kuldeep, because they are all supposed to go to Australia soon
08:03after.
08:03Yes.
08:04This IPL is crucial for everyone.
08:06Everyone.
08:07Because after a gap of six months, we are playing and it is very important that we get
08:13back to our forms.
08:15You know that we need to have that cricket fitness.
08:19Normally, 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.
08:30And to get that, you need to play a lot of matches.
08:33So it is very important.
08:35And saying that, you know, when we are playing in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, apart from Sarja, those
08:41two grounds are bigger.
08:43Everybody is saying there will be a health for the spinners.
08:46But I feel, you know, there is no cricket from past six, seven months.
08:50So we have to see how the wicket behaves.
08:53Maybe later half, there will be a little bit of health for the spinners.
08:56But the biggest plus point here would be, they have got bigger boundaries.
09:02So spinners will have some cushion.
09:05Saying that, you know, Australia, India's tour of Australia is coming up.
09:11I believe everyone who are thinking of being a part of that team will take this IPL very
09:20seriously and try and prepare themselves.
09:23But not thinking of the Australia series, but thinking of the matches that they are
09:27getting and to win.
09:28To get back that rhythm.
09:31That would be more important.
09:32If I extend that question to somebody like, say, Kale, Rahul or a Shreyas or even a Rishabh.
09:37I mean, all of a sudden, Rishabh and Kale are competing for that white ball spot.
09:41Kale has almost taken the lead.
09:43But Kale, I'm sure, wants to come back and from my conversations with him into the test
09:47team.
09:48Shreyas wants a breakthrough into the test team where, you know, the only because he's
09:52had a good white ball season.
09:53So for all of these players, this IPL, I think, is perhaps one of the most important tournaments
09:59of their career.
09:59Will you agree?
10:00Definitely.
10:01Without a doubt.
10:02Because we don't have any cricket right now.
10:05And our domestic season is going to start very late now because of the pandemic and
10:10because 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
10:19fitness, cricket fit.
10:22Kale, Rahul is a solid player.
10:25He's like, you know, when you talk about his skills, he's absolutely there.
10:29It's all about application now.
10:32Shreyas, he's shown a lot of promise.
10:36Maybe the selectors, they can look into his style of batting.
10:42Maybe, you know, Australia is always a series where you take a little, you know, longer
10:52what do you call it?
10:53Team.
10:53Like, you know, instead of 15 members, you go for like 16-17 players.
10:59And this year, in any case, they will go with 22-23 because of the pandemic and they will
11:05have a, you know, because of the ICC allowance for backups and all of that.
11:09Yeah, exactly.
11:10That's why I was coming, Boryata.
11:12And saying that…
11:14But Rishabh, in Test Cricket, I don't know.
11:17I personally feel it should be Hriday Mancha.
11:20Because he's outstanding.
11:21And he's done everything to deserve a place.
11:25In New Zealand also, we all felt it was Hriday Mancha who was supposed to play.
11:31I don't know.
11:32I believe…
11:33I'm an old-school guy.
11:34I believe, you know, you should have someone who's got the mastery.
11:39You cannot have someone, okay, in our line-up, we don't have a left-hander.
11:42So, we were playing Rishabh.
11:44It cannot be that way.
11:46I feel it should be always, you know, the guy who's best suitable for the team.
11:52My final two questions before I let you go, Pragyan.
11:54One, you will also travel is what I'm being told.
11:56You will move base from, you know, Hyderabad to Delhi to commentate, to be part of the IPL.
12:02You will have lots of media work.
12:03Are you apprehensive?
12:04Because I'm sure you've also been under lockdown for the longest period.
12:09This will be a very different media setup for you also.
12:12I mean, for the fraternity, it is not only about the players or, for example, our colleagues at
12:16Gulf News, who are putting this show for you, you know, free hit is, again, I mean,
12:21they are also having to come to office, come work from home to a degree.
12:24This is a different world.
12:25We are trying to work in a new normal.
12:28How 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,
12:36it's a new normal.
12:38We have to, you know, take precautions.
12:40We have to, whenever we are traveling anywhere, we should make sure,
12:45wherever 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.
12:57Like, you know, everybody has a purpose in life.
13:01So, for last six months, everything was halted.
13:03Like, everything was literally standstill.
13:06So, now things are slowly moving.
13:08Maybe we need to a little open out our mind and move ahead and start doing, like, you know,
13:17England set an example by, you know, starting the series against West Indies.
13:22They were there.
13:24So, now it's time we should move on.
13:26Only thing is that we should make sure we are in a, you know, in a secure place and,
13:31you know, nothing unnecessary or silly.
13:36Basically, what you're trying to tell me is corrections, yes.
13:38Negatives, no.
13:40Yeah.
13:41Very true.
13:42Very true.
13:43You know, we have to move on.
13:45Yeah, absolutely.
13:45We have to move on.
13:46I agree with you because livelihoods going away from us, each of us are going mad.
13:51I mean, you know, the economy collapsing is a very negative environment.
13:56And in that sense, the IPL is a breath of fresh air.
13:59I mean, you know, it will sustain us.
14:01It will bring optimism and positivity.
14:03Finally, coming to the question of Virat Pragyan.
14:06One, if you have to pick a favourite team this year, what's that?
14:09And number two, what will this mean for Virat Kohli?
14:11I mean, I was reading where you said, you know, the cover drive happened.
14:15And the next session was far better than he expected because he did a lot of fitness drills.
14:19And then he will captain Indian team to Australia.
14:21What will this mean for India's captain?
14:23And if I were to put you in the hot seat and say,
14:26what's your thoughts on the IPL in terms of, you know, teams, what will you say?
14:29Always my favourites.
14:31Since IPL started was CSK and MI.
14:36I always feel they offer something different.
14:39The brand of cricket they play is superb.
14:42They exactly know how to play in crucial matches and big game players they have.
14:50Saying that, Virat Kohli, batsman, without a doubt.
14:55But Virat Kohli, captain in IPL, if you see the record,
15:00you know, he needs to be there.
15:03That's what, you know, the stats.
15:05When you see the stats, you always feel, you know, he's a complete batsman.
15:09There is no question about him.
15:11But, you know, end of the day, when you are the captain, you need to...
15:15You think this can be his year?
15:17You think this can be his year?
15:18Obviously, without a doubt, you know, he's a very positive guy.
15:22You know, he always believes in, you know, taking the charge,
15:25you know, leading from the front, setting example.
15:28It's just a matter of time, but he has to deliver now.
15:30It's been so long, you know, being a captain of a franchisee side and not winning the trophy.
15:38So maybe he'll be thinking about it.
15:42But same Virat Kohli, when he's leading Indian team, he's given a lot of results.
15:48So we need to know what is happening.
15:51You know, as a well-wisher, as a sportsperson myself,
15:57sometimes it's very confusing, you know, when you see someone doing really well for the country
16:03and then as a captain, not as a player, doing so well for the country.
16:07And then when it's about the franchisee cricket, then still he has to achieve.
16:13That's a very, very good point.
16:15In fact, I am thinking of Jason Holder.
16:17I mean, doing extremely well for the West Indies.
16:19And look at what he's been doing in the CPL this year.
16:21I 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.
16:28Pragya Moja, I wish you all the very best.
16:30You've been a superstar as always.
16:32I hope there's more work that you and I will do together for Gulf News.
16:36That's the plan as the IPL progresses.
16:38I hope to get you back on this show.
16:41And there's plenty more.
16:42So stay safe.
16:44Do great work.
16:45And great to connect with you.
16:46Thank you very much for coming on.
16:47You too.
16:48You too, Bureda.
16:49Take care.