Rediff On The Net

Interviews



	Name	Murali Karthik
	Born	September 11, 1976
	Playing Style	Railways
		Interview in Real Audio

B r i e f P r o f i l e
Slow left arm orthodox bowler, left hand lower order bat Brief career profile: The Chennai-born left arm spinner with a flowing action and lovely loop has been turning in superb performances in the last couple of years. His temperament and level-headedness were noticeably in evidence on the India A tour of the West Indies last year, when he excelled with 11 wickets in two 'Tests'. A string of fine performances in the ongoing Ranji season, and an in-your-face act against the South Africans at the Brabourne Stadium for Board President's XI, pitchforked the talented left arm spinner into the national ranks.

Were you expecting this, or was it a surprise? It was a pleasant surprise. You were in the reckoning for quite some time? When you bowled well yesterday, did you think this would be it? I have been running on hope for quite a long time, so even now, after bowling yesterday I was just hopeful that I might get in. It came as a pleasant surprise to know I had made it. The last time we spoke, you said that your dream was to play cricket for India? I haven't got it, still. I have just got into the Indian side. My dream was to play for my country successfully. How was it bowling to the South Africans? I think the only person you have to think of as a good player of spin is Hansie Cronje. Because he is the one who plays spin well. The other players take their chances, but he is the only one in the South African team who has countered Shane Warne. He has taken him head-on. I am not saying that the others are bad, but he knows his way around to the spinners. Who would you thank for your success? My parents of course, then God, Bishen-sir and Maninder. What is this thing about Bishen Singh Bedi and Maninder Singh? They are the ones who have taught me what I know of bowling today. What did you learn from them? Everything.

  Thiru Kumaran
  Mohammed Kaif
  Wasim Jaffer

Class of 2000