R Sathish, the Jolly Rovers captain is an unusual cricketer, one of the toughest competitors to emerge from this part of the world. He is a talented batsman with a recently acquired hunger for runs and more runs, a more than useful medium pace bowler and arguably India’s best fielder. Tall, lean and athletic, Sathish is a product of cricket in the districts, in his case the temple town of Tiruchi, who worked his way up the ladder by sheer dint of hard work, enthusiasm and determination. When he came to the city of Chennai he was still not out of his teens. He joined the India Pistons team in 1999 and moved to Chemplast in 2005.
A mechanical engineer by qualification, Sathish has never put his technical education to use in his career, his cricket taking him to the Chennai league and beyond. For someone so talented and reliable, he has not always been the favourite of selectors, going by the shortage of opportunities to have come his way over the years at the national level. In fact, it was this particular factor that drove him to join ICL, the rebel cricket league a few years ago, leading to his being banned by the official cricket administration in India. ICL was however the big break he had been waiting for and he met with instant success there, culminating in the India captaincy in the India-Pakistan encounters in the league. All’s well that ends well, and when the ban was lifted, eight teams in the official Indian cricket league IPL approached him with offers. Sathish joined Mumbai Indians (MI), where his proximity to his boyhood hero and MI captain Sachin Tendulkar transformed his cricket and his life.
Captaining Jolly Rovers for the first time this season, he led from the front, scoring a record 1,245
runs in the season at an average of over 110. In the last three innings he played, he scored 266 not out, 232 and 135, battling fatigue, bouts of vomiting, dehydration and cramps throughout his marathon sessions at the crease. He was superbly supported by veteran batsman Ajay Kudua who encouraged him at the crease. His powers of concentration and his fierce determination to conquer physical challenges and the Palayampatti shield for his team were a revelation. It was a new Sathish, performing feats of endurance rarely seen in domestic cricket.
Here Sathish shares with Matrix some of his thoughts on cricket, Jolly Rovers, Tendulkar and his future in the game.
Matrix: Congratulations, Sathish, on your magnificent performances and winning the league for your team.
Sathish: Thank you very much.
Why did you choose to move to Sanmar and Jolly Rovers?
I was attracted by the fantastic professionalism here. It was an opportunity to play alongside international cricketers. The standard was very high, with the team reaching the finals of most tournaments in India. It was a high profile team, with intense competition for places in the side.
How long have you been captain of the team?
I started captaining the side at the beginning of this season. I missed quite a few games through injury and at least after suffering a heat stroke. I am enjoying captaincy.
Where did you start your cricket career?
At Tiruchi. I played all my cricket there, before I moved to Chennai in 1999— for the school and for the district, among other things. My mother and my brother have been a great support. Dad, a major in the army, passed away when I was hardly five.
How were the facilities?
Non-existent, but who cared? To play the game was a privilege.
What are your assets as a cricketer?
That would be my strength of mind, self-belief, hard work. I’m known to be a team man.
How was the ICL experience? You must have been anxious after the ban and the eventual collapse of ICL.
It was a great experience. I got to rub shoulders with great cricketers like Michael Bevan of Australia. I captained the Indian team against Pakistan and we won. It made me believe in my own ability. It was good to know that I belonged at that level.
I learnt how to play T20 cricket. My role was to go in and blast runs in the last six overs or so.
The ICL experience stood me in good stead, when the ban was lifted and I became eligible to play in the Indian Premier League. Eight teams wanted me and I opted for Mumbai Indians.
How was that experience?
Fantastic. It was a dream come true to play alongside my boyhood hero Sachin Tendulkar. I used to play relatively by short innings, more intent on blasting sixes and fours than building innings. Sachin was a revelation. He never lofted the ball, did not hit sixers, yet he scored the quickest and most runs.
How much did you get to interact with him and how much did you benefit from it?
During the IPL, I would have spent some ten hours one-to-one with Sachin. I learnt so much about focus from him.
How come he paid special attention to you?
I know he likes my cricket, but any member of the team could have gained what I gained from him. I used to take advantage of his accessibility, go to his room and ask questions about my batting, and he would patiently answer my questions.
What advice did he give you?
He basically gave me confidence by saying I batted well. He approved my technique. That was a great morale booster. Imagine Tendulkar saying your technique is good! He said I had a good head, good mind. He spoke of the need to tackle the short ball, the yorker, the variety bowlers would target you with in the final overs in T20.
Are you a better batsman as a result?
Yes, I am. I have become hungry for runs. I don’t want to gift my wicket. Our coach Robin Singh was another good influence. He helped me play straighter, play along the ground, another thing I learnt from watching Tendulkar as well. Robin asked me about my league performance, and I said I’d scored 600 runs in 8 matches. After my stint with MI, I scored 600 runs in three!
You went away to Assam because you were not a regular in the Tamil Nadu team. You even scored a double century against Tamil Nadu. Now back in Tamil Nadu, you are still in and out of the team. Which state will you be turning out for next season?
I don’t know. I will concentrate on getting more and more runs. You know I have a fever now, but I’m dying to go out there and score runs. My focus will be my batting, fielding and bowling—which I hope to improve. I will put pressure on the selectors with extraordinary performances.