JP Duminy interview: "DC are a little more relaxed while MI were more intense"

Hailing from Western Cape, South Africa, JP Duminy has come a long way in cricket; he’s made a name for himself on the international stage in all the formats of the game. His first opportunity came when was called up to replace the injured Ashwell Prince in a Test match against Australia in 2008, which marked his international debut. He made the most of the opportunity and scored a half century and, to add icing to the cake, even the the winning runs for his team. When he scored a century as early as in his second Test against Australia during the Boxing Day Test, his performance was extolled by the critics of the cricketing world. Since that career-defining knock, though, Duminy has proved, through his consistent performances in the shorter formats of the game, that he is not a player whose only forte lies in the longer format. He was picked by the Mumbai Indians and he played for them in the first three seasons of the IPL, where he made some useful scores. He has been playing for the Deccan Chargers since the Chargers picked him up at the auction before the IPL-4, and he has proved to be a great buy.

In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Duminy talks about his game and his IPL experience.

Kritika : How did the cricketing journey begin for you?

JP : It started with me playing cricket with my friends on the road; soon I found that I had an inclination towards it. I began playing club cricket when I was around 9 or 10. I continued to play the game, and with my love for the sport, I never looked back.

Kritika: Do you consider yourself as an all-rounder or just a batsman?

JP: I think I am an all-rounder, and not just a batsman. I like to handle all aspects of the game and have control over them. I tried my hand at bowling so that I could gain fluency in both aspects of the game – batting as well as bowling.

Kritika: Take us through your Test debut where you hit the winning runs for South Africa against Australia.

JP: It was a momentous occasion and one that I will never forget. I got a call the morning before the Test match at Perth, and on the eve of the match of course I spent a sleepless night like everyone else. The game didn’t start off too well for us, but the top order set up the second innings. After that, it was up to me I guess, and I took it upon myself to see the game through. It was a very special moment.

Kritika: South Africa seem like a team that can dominate world cricket with the quality of players they have. What do you think is holding them back?

JP: I think that at crucial times, when we have needed to keep our calm, we have buckled under the pressure instead. We have addressed that as a team and are working towards better play in the future; hopefully, we can turn our fortunes around soon.

Kritika: How different is the IPL from the Champions League and how was your experience participating in it as part of the Cape Cobras?

JP: Champions League is a tad stronger than the IPL, but the degree to which you enjoy playing the tournament depends on which team you are playing for. I personally would prefer representing an IPL team, even though it might not necessarily be the strongest team. I think for domestic players around the world, the Champions League is a great place to be. I myself had a great stint participating with the Cape Cobras in the inaugural CLT20 and we fared quite well too.

Kritika: If you had to pick between playing for the Chargers or the Cape Cobras in the CLT20, who would you pick to play for and why?

JP: Last year the Chargers didn’t qualify, so obviously it was not a choice I had to make then. And this time around, we have not put up a good show until now, but we are hoping that we can register a few wins in our forthcoming matches. I will make the decision which team to pick when the time comes – can’t choose at this stage!

Kritika : How has your experience with the Chargers been so far?

JP: It’s been good so far, although our cricket hasn’t been up to the mark the way we would have liked it to be. But we are all geared up to change that. I have seen different cultures and met new people in my time here. I have really enjoyed interacting with the team and the people around me.

Kritika: How was it with the Mumbai Indians earlier and how different was that compared to what it is with the Chargers now?

JP: I don’t think there’s a lot of difference, but yes, it was a great experience playing with the Mumbai Indians and getting the opportunity to play with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya. Playing in front of the Mumbai crowd is a whole different experience too.

Kritika: Do you think the Chargers have the right mix to go all the way in the tournament?

JP: I do believe we have the right mix to go all the way in the tournament, but it is just about getting the right combination together. A side has to be good in all the departments – batting, bowling and the fielding – to perform well and win matches and that’s what we’re striving towards.

Kritika: What, in your opinion, is the biggest difference between the two sides (DC and MI)?

JP: The Deccan Chargers have a little more relaxed approach while I think the Mumbai Indians were more intense – that I think would be a fundamental difference I’ve noticed between the two sides.

Kritika: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

JP: A part of a South African team who are World Cup winners.

Kritika: What has been your favorite cricketing moment?

JP: It definitely has to be hitting the winning runs in my first ever Test, against Australia at Perth.

Kritika: Who was your childhood hero?

JP: The legendary Brain Lara.