We have the firepower in us: Badrinath

9th May 2008

Subramaniam Badrinath has been knocking on the doors of the Indian cricket team for quite a while now. He was selected for the recent series against South Africa but didn't find a place in the playing eleven.

Representing the Chennai Super Kings in the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL), Badrinath is fast putting himself in the reckoning for a national berth with some good performances for the side from the south. In an exclusive interview with one of our on-field reporters, Badrinath talks about the IPL and his plans to don the blue Indian team jersey soon.

Badrinath said that his experience so far has been good. He was happy with the way his side is progressing in the tournament and said that although they have had a few upsets, if they play well in their next 6 matches they will make it through to the next round.

When Badrinath was interviewed, Chennai had been defeated thrice, all losses coming after Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey left their side for international duty.

Asked if the absence of the Australian power duo is affecting the morale of his side, Badrinath said, "I wouldn't wish to say so. But the class of players like Hayden and Hussey, when they do well for us, you're bound to miss them."

He seemed optimistic for Chennai's run in the rest of the tournament saying, "We got the firepower in us. The only thing in the last games its not been firing that much. We've worked on it."

According to Badrinath, the atmosphere in the dressing room is very good and it's the learning curve that comes with interacting with different players that makes the IPL special.

The ODI format requires some huge hitting but you can still afford to space your innings out whereas in Twenty20, you have to be on the button at all times.

Referring to this, Badrinath replied, "It's all in the mind. More than your game - it's a matter of believing in yourself, knowing what your game is and trying to work around it. Once you can do that, it's all about adaptation and innovation which you can do yourself."

He was selected for the home series against South Africa prior to the IPL but did not play. Instead of feeling disappointed about that, Badrinath enjoyed the experience of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

Badrinath is one of the few Indian players in the IPL to actually represent the team he is born and bought up in. Chennai-born Badrinath said, "Given a choice I would always play for the Chennai Super Kings. My heart's always in Chennai. There's nothing like playing on your home ground with big home crowds. It just gets you going, nothing can beat it."

He said that it was his excellent performances in the Challenger series that caught the attention of the national selectors and adds that if he continues his good run in the IPL, it will only boost his chances for a prompt one-day international debut.