'It's about feeling comfortable'
'You learn new things everyday, and you keep improving all the time,' says Mohammad Kaif as the interview begins
Rahul Bhatia
26-Jan-2005
"You learn new things every day, and you keep improving all the time," says Mohammad Kaif. First seen as a one-day batsman, he shone against Australia on his Test return recently after three years, displaying courage, grit and an ability to keep his head. He spoke with Rahul Bhatia in this exclusive interview:
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You've been batting higher up in one-dayers lately. What changes have you needed to make?
If I have 15 overs to bat, I've got to take some risks, because the team needs you to score runs faster. So that way you have to plan your innings and bat accordingly. If you're batting at No. 3 or 4, you have plenty of overs to bat. You can spend some time at the crease, get used to the bowler's action, the ground, the wicket. My game requires more overs. It's the kind of player I am. If you compare me to Yuvraj or Veeru [Sehwag] and a few guys in the team, I'm not like them. They are big hitters. They have great timing. They can hit the ball so hard. I can, but not that often. I'm the kind of player who wants some time at the crease. I would love to have more overs to bat and build my innings, depending on the situation.
If I have 15 overs to bat, I've got to take some risks, because the team needs you to score runs faster. So that way you have to plan your innings and bat accordingly. If you're batting at No. 3 or 4, you have plenty of overs to bat. You can spend some time at the crease, get used to the bowler's action, the ground, the wicket. My game requires more overs. It's the kind of player I am. If you compare me to Yuvraj or Veeru [Sehwag] and a few guys in the team, I'm not like them. They are big hitters. They have great timing. They can hit the ball so hard. I can, but not that often. I'm the kind of player who wants some time at the crease. I would love to have more overs to bat and build my innings, depending on the situation.
Against Australia we saw your new stance. How did that come about?
I've got no clue! I watch it on TV, but I don't really think too much about my stance and technique, as long as I'm hitting the ball well and scoring runs. I've got no complaints about where my bat is coming down from, my leg movements, where my head is going. I'm not very technical. I might make very slight adjustments depending on the bowler and the wicket.
I've got no clue! I watch it on TV, but I don't really think too much about my stance and technique, as long as I'm hitting the ball well and scoring runs. I've got no complaints about where my bat is coming down from, my leg movements, where my head is going. I'm not very technical. I might make very slight adjustments depending on the bowler and the wicket.
During the recent series you seemed to be slightly uncomfortable with the moving ball. Is that true?
Where did you see that?
Where did you see that?
In the series against Australia ...
[Laughs] Are you sure it was me? I don't think ... I've played in England. If you compare it to English conditions, Indian wickets are much flatter. So if I can play well abroad, I've got no complaints with my technique facing any kind of bowler. I've done reasonably well in England and South Africa. Except New Zealand, where I didn't do that well. But all the guys struggled there, so ... If you see my overseas record, I've not done too badly, so I've got no complaints regarding my technique and facing the moving delivery. But obviously when you play a team like Australia, you cannot smash every ball. You've got to have your luck, your technique and mental technique right, because they always come at you hard. They like to play mind games. As a batsman if you can handle that, you'll have success against them. McGrath is a world-class bowler, so if you get beaten by him off a few deliveries, I don't think you need to think too much about your technique.
[Laughs] Are you sure it was me? I don't think ... I've played in England. If you compare it to English conditions, Indian wickets are much flatter. So if I can play well abroad, I've got no complaints with my technique facing any kind of bowler. I've done reasonably well in England and South Africa. Except New Zealand, where I didn't do that well. But all the guys struggled there, so ... If you see my overseas record, I've not done too badly, so I've got no complaints regarding my technique and facing the moving delivery. But obviously when you play a team like Australia, you cannot smash every ball. You've got to have your luck, your technique and mental technique right, because they always come at you hard. They like to play mind games. As a batsman if you can handle that, you'll have success against them. McGrath is a world-class bowler, so if you get beaten by him off a few deliveries, I don't think you need to think too much about your technique.
I love moving around, I love chatting, I love making noise, and it helps my own fielding
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Your fielding stance is unique as well. Does that help you?
Same thing. It's about feeling comfortable. It's not in the book, and it's not because of coaching. It's not parents telling you how to take a start or to hold a bat. It's in your mind. It's about going out there and finding the best technique you are comfortable with and applying it in the match. I do practice hard out there whenever I get time, and I try to learn new things. It may look awkward on TV, but I'm comfortable with my position.
Same thing. It's about feeling comfortable. It's not in the book, and it's not because of coaching. It's not parents telling you how to take a start or to hold a bat. It's in your mind. It's about going out there and finding the best technique you are comfortable with and applying it in the match. I do practice hard out there whenever I get time, and I try to learn new things. It may look awkward on TV, but I'm comfortable with my position.
There were reports of you and Yuvraj being the "fielding captains" of the team ...
It happened in South Africa during the World Cup. We used to point out the mistakes the team was making, and we'd chat about what was going wrong. It's been quite hyped. It was nothing, really. The coach and captain thought we were the best among them so they thought we could shed some light regarding fielding. We tried our best.
It happened in South Africa during the World Cup. We used to point out the mistakes the team was making, and we'd chat about what was going wrong. It's been quite hyped. It was nothing, really. The coach and captain thought we were the best among them so they thought we could shed some light regarding fielding. We tried our best.
Do you think it helped?
I really don't know, to be honest! You guys tell us! It's a long process. It's not easy, becoming a good fielder. It's probably the culture. You'll not find too many coaches giving fielding sessions for an hour. They would love to bat and bowl in the nets for an hour, but you will not find anybody doing individual fielding for an hour. It's an old trend. Hopefully it will change.
I really don't know, to be honest! You guys tell us! It's a long process. It's not easy, becoming a good fielder. It's probably the culture. You'll not find too many coaches giving fielding sessions for an hour. They would love to bat and bowl in the nets for an hour, but you will not find anybody doing individual fielding for an hour. It's an old trend. Hopefully it will change.
Was fielding something that you picked up by yourself?
When I was a kid, you watched TV, and you liked watching different things. Not usually in India, but other teams were doing it [fielding well], other players were doing it, so you'd take good things from them. You'd use your own mind and practise and try to get better. It's not always coaching. It's from watching TV, listening to commentary. You pick up new things that could improve your game. There's no shame in taking good things from other players if you can improve and contribute to the team.
When I was a kid, you watched TV, and you liked watching different things. Not usually in India, but other teams were doing it [fielding well], other players were doing it, so you'd take good things from them. You'd use your own mind and practise and try to get better. It's not always coaching. It's from watching TV, listening to commentary. You pick up new things that could improve your game. There's no shame in taking good things from other players if you can improve and contribute to the team.
When did you know that you were an above-average fielder?
I realised it a long time back, when I was 16. When I was playing for my state, I knew that I could be a good fielder. I had the fitness, but I knew that if I kept working hard, it would get better. Looking at the players on TV, teams nowadays are good fielding units, and that makes a big difference. They've realised that it's an important area. Most teams are trying to improve their fielding skills. For that they keep their fitness going, they're getting stronger, and new drills have come up. They have fielding coaches now. If there's a partnership going, and things are not going your way, you take a brilliant catch or a great run-out, and a new face comes in. You're back in the game.
I realised it a long time back, when I was 16. When I was playing for my state, I knew that I could be a good fielder. I had the fitness, but I knew that if I kept working hard, it would get better. Looking at the players on TV, teams nowadays are good fielding units, and that makes a big difference. They've realised that it's an important area. Most teams are trying to improve their fielding skills. For that they keep their fitness going, they're getting stronger, and new drills have come up. They have fielding coaches now. If there's a partnership going, and things are not going your way, you take a brilliant catch or a great run-out, and a new face comes in. You're back in the game.
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You seem to be restless on the field. Is that nervous energy?
It's to keep the boys going. The one-day game has become so intense now. You expect something to happen every single ball. If you're not focussing all the way through, one missed chance or one dropped catch can lose you the match. I enjoy my fielding. I love moving around, I love chatting, I love making noise, and it helps my own fielding. It keeps me going for three hours. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't be the same fielder. I've seen others, the best, doing the same, so I don't mind copying them.
It's to keep the boys going. The one-day game has become so intense now. You expect something to happen every single ball. If you're not focussing all the way through, one missed chance or one dropped catch can lose you the match. I enjoy my fielding. I love moving around, I love chatting, I love making noise, and it helps my own fielding. It keeps me going for three hours. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't be the same fielder. I've seen others, the best, doing the same, so I don't mind copying them.
Back to batting. Who do you enjoy batting with?
I'm comfortable with most of the players in the team. I don't get the chance to bat with Veeru [Sehwag] very often because he opens and I bat at No. 7, and by the time ... [laughs] I've been unlucky, not being out there with him. I have a very good understanding with Rahul and Yuvraj. Sachin also.
I'm comfortable with most of the players in the team. I don't get the chance to bat with Veeru [Sehwag] very often because he opens and I bat at No. 7, and by the time ... [laughs] I've been unlucky, not being out there with him. I have a very good understanding with Rahul and Yuvraj. Sachin also.
John Wright speaks highly of you. How has he helped your game develop?
He's a great, great motivator. When newcomers come into the team, he understands their feelings and he knows how to get the best out of the guys. It's not always about coaching. It's about how you behave with players and motivate them through the good and bad times. Ups and downs are there, and he understands that they are part of the game. It's all you need from a coach. When things are not going your way, you need someone to stand up for you and say "I'm behind you. Just play your natural game, relax and have fun." He's done fantastically well for Indian cricket since he joined us five years ago. He's taken us a long way. He raised the standard of Indian cricket. He's got the basics right for all the players.
He's a great, great motivator. When newcomers come into the team, he understands their feelings and he knows how to get the best out of the guys. It's not always about coaching. It's about how you behave with players and motivate them through the good and bad times. Ups and downs are there, and he understands that they are part of the game. It's all you need from a coach. When things are not going your way, you need someone to stand up for you and say "I'm behind you. Just play your natural game, relax and have fun." He's done fantastically well for Indian cricket since he joined us five years ago. He's taken us a long way. He raised the standard of Indian cricket. He's got the basics right for all the players.
You've led Uttar Pradesh with some success. Any hopes of captaining India?
I've still got a long way to go. I don't want to think about leading India because I know it's a funny game. I just got back in the side, and I want to keep my form going. I've only played seven Tests. I'm still very young and I've got lots of things to prove. I have to score plenty of runs and hopefully if I continue this good form, good things will happen. To be honest, I don't keep long-term goals. Short goals. Match by match.
I've still got a long way to go. I don't want to think about leading India because I know it's a funny game. I just got back in the side, and I want to keep my form going. I've only played seven Tests. I'm still very young and I've got lots of things to prove. I have to score plenty of runs and hopefully if I continue this good form, good things will happen. To be honest, I don't keep long-term goals. Short goals. Match by match.
Rahul Bhatia is on the staff of Wisden Cricinfo.