Subramaniam Badrinath is 28, but doesn’t feel that it’s a bit too old to be breaking into the national side. One of his inspirations is Michael Hussey, who made his Australian debut at the age of 31. V. V. Subrahmanyam spoke to Badrinath in Hyderabad recently.
It all began in 2000 when he scored a century for Tamil Nadu against Karnataka. That was when he started believing in himself that he could make it big in the world of cricket. Eight years later, a combination of grit, dedication and commitment has seen his cricketing skills blossom enough to merit a call for national duty. This is Subramaniam Badrinath for you.
This compact middle-order batsman has a counter to those who question his selection at the age of 28. “Age should never be a criterion. This talk arises because of the general perception that with age physical fitness decreases. But it is conveniently forgotten that cricketers who focus on their fitness diligently, can keep their level as high as ever. And, when you back this with consistency in domestic cricket you always have a good chance to play in the higher grade of cricket,” he explains.
Interestingly, for someone who is keen to grab a chance to play against the best side in the world — the Australians — Badrinath picks southpaw Michael Hussey as his inspiration.
“I grew up admiring Sachin and Rahul (Dravid). Now, Hussey is a new addition to that list,” he says. “I am a big fan of his toughness and dedication. For someone who made his debut at 31, Hussey is proving to be a force to reckon with. I keep talking to him and try to learn how one should keep going in tough times,” the Chennai cricketer said.
“His advice has been simple — enjoy the game whether you are playing for your country or not. Keep learning right through. These words have made me a better cricketer,” says Badrinath.
Importantly, Badrinath doesn’t feel that it could have been the end of the road for him if he had not been given a chance this time. “I have been close to national selection for three years now. These ups and downs are inevitable. I was never frustrated but definitely disappointed. Then I thought the best way to be in the limelight would be to keep scoring heavily,” he said.
Who was the biggest influence on his career? “My dad. He always analyses my game and suggests a few things. When it comes to cricketing aspects, I always look to Abdul Jabbar (Chemplast) and Jai Kumar (Kerala),” he said. He also expressed his gratitude to Bharat Reddy, former India stumper, and to the TNCA officials for their all-out support.
What are his priorities now that he has got a call for national duty? “The first and foremost thing will be to seal my place in the national team for Tests and then focus on one-dayers,” Badrinath said. “There is no better feeling than testing oneself against the best side in the world.”
Badrinath gets his motivation from the ‘Fab Four’, namely Sachin, Rahul, Laxman and Ganguly. He points out that they all started from scratch to become greats. And this is a big motivating factor for him also.
“I know there will be a feeling of being overwhelmed in their company. But fortunately, they are all such super guys they make you very comfortable,” he says. The recent Sri Lankan tour, when he played a role in India’s victory in the one-day series, is the high point of his career so far.
“The feeling of being a member of the winning side was something very special. That spurs me to aim big,” signs off Badrinath with a promise to live up to expectations.
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