S Sreesanth: Not easy to play cricket at 37 when fast bowlers give up or retire

Kerala pacer S Sreesanth trains in Mumbai recently. Pic/AFP

It was a "decent" feeling for S Sreesanth when he returned to the Wankhede Stadium after seven years on Sunday. It's a venue where the India pacer experienced his career's high and low. Sreesanth is set to play his first competitive match today when Kerala take on Pondicherry in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20.

Sreesanth was in the playing XI when MS Dhoni's team lifted the 2011 World Cup. Two years later, he was arrested late in the night for alleged spot fixing after representing Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede. He was banned for life, but after winning court battles and several pleas to the BCCI, Sreesanth's ban ended in September last year.

Sreesanth, 37, is grateful that his cricket is resuming at a venue where it was halted in 2013. "This is the best place to start. In fact, I couldn't have asked for anything better," Sreesanth said on Sunday.

mid-day caught up with the maverick pacer, who aims to break into the Indian cricket team for the 2023 World Cup.

Excerpts:

How did you feel when you entered the Wankhede Stadium again?
It is pretty decent today, but the day before yesterday (January 8) when I first entered the Wankhede Stadium after seven years, it was something else. It must be a coincidence that my last red-ball match, the Irani Cup, was at Wankhede and the last white-ball match was the 2011 World Cup final. The challenge for me will be rather than trying to do something (different), I should be just myself. I am not worried about the results. I am really grateful to the selectors, my teammates, the BCCI and the entire Kerala Cricket Association. It is not easy to play cricket at 37 where fast bowlers give up or retire. I am excited and keenly looking forward to this tournament because four games are live and everybody who missed watching me and want to see what I am going to do, can watch me from tomorrow. I think I can do some mystery, which will be my story.

What's been your preparation like?
God has been extremely kind. It (IPL spot fixing ban) has been a blessing in disguise actually because when the ban happened, I had surgeries on the two big toes. So, I was suppose to play till the 2015 World Cup and then call it a day, but then since I haven't played in any competitive cricket…I haven't ran that fast except in the last five to six months during training, both my big toes are in good condition. So, I think I have at least three to four years of cricket left. When you play continuous cricket, it takes a toll on your body and that's why I said you retire at 36 or 37. When I look back, it is good that I didn't play because I am getting a chance to play now. I am looking at the positive side of life. I am not comparing myself to anybody.

How do you look at the fierce competition for fast bowlers?
If I want to be philosophical, I can tell you impossible is 'I am possible'. Zaheer (Khan) bhai was never 140 kmph-plus, but he used his skills to take those wickets. Yes, I may bowl fast sooner or later. Right now, I am looking to enjoy every moment. I just want to improve and learn as much as possible because cricket has changed so much. While we are talking about getting into the Indian cricket team, what about the Kerala playing XI? Making it to XI is itself a great thing. I will take it day-by-day. The way Kerala cricket is supporting, we have some amazing support staff, and the technology that we have now, it is about being patient and not doing too much, and not trying to tell the world what you missed. When I was playing, there was Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Dodda Ganesh, L Balaji, Ajit Agarkar. When Greg Chappell came to India, we had a camp for 36 fast bowlers and I was the 36th bowler. From there, I played two World Cups. Only a few days back, I came to know that I am the only fast bowler to be in the playing XI of the T20 and 50-over World Cup-winning teams. So why not have another World Cup in your hand? I am confident that once I get my rhythm and start bowling well, any team would love to have me because I am a wicket-taking bowler. I believe in god and I am sure he will bless me.

So, 2023 World Cup is your aim?
If I say I am looking to play in this year's T20 World Cup, it will be like you want to play the World Cup after getting your debut cap. So that's why getting selected for the 2023 World Cup is my goal. I am very fortunate to compete once again. I want to help Kerala cricket go forward. I would love to play under an aggressive captain like Virat Kohli. I never had an aggressive captain. I always wanted to play under Sourav Ganguly, but it never happened. I would love an aggressive captain so that I can do a few things, which people will see in Mushtaq Ali T20. Hopefully, we will be able to win the tournament.

Do the bitter memories of Mumbai bother you still?
I am blessed to be around some great guys. It will be a big lie if I say I was tortured and there was no help for me. But that is in the past, it's history. Mumbai has given me my bread and butter not just in cricket, but even in Bollywood. After my marriage, we shifted to this city for five years. I love this city and will always be grateful to Mumbai.

Even when I was going through a very difficult phase in my life, I clearly remember Sachin Tendulkar sir and Sharad Pawar sir telling me to be patient and not give up. When we won the 2011 World Cup, the Cricket Club of India gave us a life membership, which is a great honour. I love Mumbai, so one small incident [arrest after the IPL match] shouldn't spoil so many happy memories of this great city.

Yes, those bad memories keep coming back, but I have a great unit around me --- my teammates, parents and wife. I have sweated a lot on this ground and I am confident I will be rewarded.