TNPL 2016: Paddle shot is my favourite innovation, says Karaikudi Kaalai captain Subramanium Badrinath

Karaikudi Kaalai captain Subramanium Badrinath spoke exclusively to the India Cements TN Premier League website on Tuesday ahead of the team’s game against Ruby Kanchi Warriors at the India Cements Limited Ground at Sankarnagar, Tirunelveli. Excerpts from the interview:
 
Has the India Cements TN Premier League changed the concept of cricket being a batsman’s game?
 
Since the time T20 cricket started, the department that has picked up has been bowling. Initially, when the shortest format of the game started, everyone said this was a graveyard for bowlers, and talk was on that spinners are going to be demolished, and all that.

But the way the bowlers and spinners have made a comeback, it has been phenomenal. Even the bowlers have pulled up their strings well and have come out as match winners. Also, when we defended a low score on this ground, the bowlers won the match for us. You can’t rule the bowlers out of the game, and whatever be the situation, bowlers can win the matches for you.

They have proved it and even last night there was an exceptional bowling performance (by Ashwath Mukunthan of Chepauk Super Gillies). I would say that, yes, India Cements TN Premier League has given a lifeline for the bowlers, especially the spinners.
 
On left-arm spinners having a great tournament
 
Even in the Indian Premier League (IPL), left-arm spinners are a precious commodity. This is thanks to two factors: One, because more teams have a lot of right-handers in the top of their order, and two, because of the sub-continental conditions.

Sub-continental conditions include Chennai, Dindigul or Tirunelveli, and also other places, but generally in India, the spinners are hard to hit. They can cramp the batsmen for room and are tough to get away with.
 
After a couple of early losses, you came back well in the next three games, so what different strategy did you follow?
 
I knew we had the ammunition in our batting, but it definitely needed a little bit of tweaking with the order. The important thing in T20s is that you have to be flexible and you can’t have a fixed batting-order. You will counter strategies and attack bowlers only if there is a flexible batting line-up.

That is one thing that we addressed on and which helped us to get three consecutive wins. One thing that we got going in those three games was our combination, especially bowling, which didn’t happen in the first two matches. The win (against Albert Tuti Patriots) showed us the way as to who can bowl and where.

Also, as a captain, I knew what I had in my hand and I knew who to use, when, and that has been happening after our second game. The bowlers understood their roles well and knew when and what to do. The important thing was to find the combination and it took two games for us. Once that happened, I think we are playing good cricket.
 
What advice do you have for players who haven’t got an opportunity to be a part of a single game yet?
 
It is hard in a format like this and it is important to not drop a player even if he is not doing well despite his very small role in the playing XI, which might be helping the team. The thing I would like to say to my youngsters is that when they go back to their respective club teams, in whatever format they play, they would need to go back as better cricketers, no matter if they have got a game or not.

They should learn whatever they can in this one month and implement it in the future. It is a very good opportunity for them to be working with a lot of elite cricketers and coaches. They have rubbed shoulders with many and so many of them might be playing in this format for the first time.

It teaches you multiple skills and dimensions of cricket and the important thing is to not just to play a game or two, but to develop as cricketers and individuals, as one goes along.
 
On being a part of Karaikudi Kaalai
 
It has been a nice feeling and I can’t ask for more from the franchisee. They have been very good and supportive, as even after the first two losses, they addressed us and gave us a pep talk post which we have played well. They have been behind us every time and the A to Z of everything has been taken care of, right from our practice facilities to our dressing room environment.

Off the field, everything has been impeccable and we have got a great support staff. I think I would be failing if I don’t mention their help as well. People see only what we do on the field but there are million things that are happening outside as well. As a whole, the Karaikudi franchisee has been phenomenal.

We have a young and fairly inexperienced side and though we haven’t played to the best of our potential yet, still we are getting there.
 
Youngsters who have caught your eye in the tournament
 
There have been at least four youngsters from my team who have done well in the tournament. M Vijaya Kumar and R Rajkumar have been great, as nobody knew about them before the league, and they have carved a name for themselves. Sonu Yadav is a young lad who has delivered for us in two games, and in the one game he bowled well, he won the Man of the match award.

Also, there is this 18 or 19 year-old left-arm spinner who has been great for us and has delivered the goods for us in crucial situations. These names crop up immediately to my mind.

If you see in the overall tournament, Dindigul struck the chord well whereas N Jagadeesan has also done well. We (Badrinath and Jagadeesan) also play for the same team even in the leagues. We play for Grand Slam CC and I knew that he had it in him.

I will be surprised if he doesn’t play much more cricket for Tamil Nadu, but he is a quality wicketkeeper and he will get more opportunities in the years to come. Another player is T Natarajan, who I have observed before. So it is nice to see him do well in the tournament. Though it is still early to play higher levels of cricket, but still he has it in him.
 
On cricket in districts
 
The support that we have received in Tirunelveli and Dindigul has been phenomenal. They are getting to see top-quality cricketers in close quarters and are able to watch this extravaganza, which is the tournament’s real success. Though Chennai always give good matches, be it Tests or One-Day Internationals, but taking cricket to the smaller towns is a huge thing.

We are just amazed at the kind of support in the districts, as there is much more support here compared to Chennai. They love us with a lot of heart and that is definitely touching. I also feel it is an eye- opener.
 
Is the innovation in batting in the league missing, and will we get to see some from you?
 
(Smiles) I think it comes with experience. I was more of an innovative kind of player and nobody knew that I could be successful in the IPL. But I found a way and started playing the paddle- shot, among other things. I am trying here as well, but we can only adjust according to the conditions. For instance if (Lasith) Malinga bowls at a speed of 140, I can play the paddle-shot because I need good pace for that shot.