Amid your commitment towards RCB and Baroda, where does your India ambition stand?
It is right there, at the top of the table. There is nothing bigger than playing for the country. The thought process about representing India never changes.
Whatever opportunities I got to represent India, I did well. I firmly believe in focusing on what is in your hands, which is playing your sport at your best.
What specific mechanical shift helped you move from a collapsing front leg to a stronger vertical brace?
It is fitness. Sometimes, we don’t highlight enough the work that happens behind the scenes. At the end of the day, it is important to acknowledge what has worked.
For me, the fitter you are, the more things you can adapt to. Sometimes as a cricketer or even as a person, you know what you want to improve at, but your body may not allow it because you are not fit enough to adapt to new things.
Trying to become the fittest version of myself has helped me develop new things in my game.
Has your new release height helped you generate more bounce and zip off the surface?
Yes, obviously, I have worked a lot on my bowling. When I bowl left-arm spin now, I am much taller in my action than before. I have shortened my stride to get more bounce because in the IPL, you hardly get spin from the wicket.
So the question becomes: how do you deceive batters? I have worked on my action to get that extra bounce by staying tall. I have realised that the best cricket I have played in my career has come when I have followed my instincts.
Can you elaborate on making the short ball a wicket-taking option?
People have emphasized a lot on the short ball I bowl. In the last two years, I saw some stats where I had bowled the maximum number of bouncers, which is strange.
But I don’t focus on any one particular delivery. My only focus is staying one step ahead of the batter.
Given the limited batting opportunities you’ve had over the past few years, how have you worked on it?
Over the past 3-4 years, I haven’t had too many opportunities to bat in the IPL. That said, the thought process remains the same. How can I evolve? How can I get better? In the past two years as a batting unit, we have done unbelievably well, so I don’t have any complaints about me not batting. But yeah, whenever the opportunity comes, I will give my 100%.
Over 1800 runs and in excess of 100 wickets in IPL, how satisfying is that in his journey?
If I have to sum it up in one word, grateful. And for me, the icing on the cake is those four trophies (three with the Mumbai Indians) which I’ve had an opportunity to lift.
You are not somebody who backs down from challenges. Does that come naturally to you?
Yes. I have learnt that from my parents. They never back down from anything. That willpower to keep fighting and never give up comes very naturally to me because of them.