On this episode of 'Free Hit' - a series of exclusive video interviews with players, officials and TV pundits from the Indian Premier League - Boria Majumdar talks to India's 'Voice of Cricket' Aakash Chopra ahead of IPL 13 in the UAE.
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00:00How are you seeing the tournament? And can you just sort of give me a brief analysis, the way you are seeing the tournament shape up.
00:06Some teams will have an advantage, some will not. Some which has major Indian players might go in a little rusty. How are you looking at it?
00:17Hello and welcome to this very special edition of Free Hit. And today, you've got somebody who is an absolute pro.
00:23So, all I will do is just pose the questions. He will actually, you know, sort of do all the free hits.
00:29One of India's best known voices at the moment. In fact, it has become a cult. You want to listen to something called Akash Vani, switch on to this man.
00:38He has become this cult as far as cricket commentary is concerned, whether it's Hindi, whether it's English.
00:44The millions of followers that he has on social media speaks volumes for his popularity, but far more important two things.
00:50One, one of the top analysts of the game. Somebody who, you know, whose analysis I follow. And number two, a very, very dear friend.
00:59Who I have the greatest of respect for. Welcome Akash Chopra. Welcome once again to this show and thanks for doing it for me.
01:05Thank you so much, Bhoria. This was actually a free hit and you hit it out of the park.
01:10I expected nothing less than like a lot of kindness from you and that's what I've got. Exact. Too kind. My brother.
01:18No, no. Seriously. Seriously, I mean, you have become so, so, so good. Both of us have been talking from March onwards.
01:25IPL will happen. Will it happen? Finally, it's happening. You will be there. You are one of the voices for the host, broadcasters, star sports.
01:32First thoughts, as a cricketer, as a former cricketer, now as a commentator. First thoughts, IPL is happening.
01:37I'm very excited. We were all waiting with bated breath that there will be a day that we will have the IPL in 2020.
01:44Because at some, at one stage, it looked very unlikely. But then a few months down the line, both of us discussed it also that
01:51World Cup is looking unlikely with every passing day. That kind of arrangement, flying in 16 countries in Australia is not going to be possible.
01:58And if that's the case, then IPL will take place and we will utilise that window. And that's exactly how it is happening now.
02:06So, while there is a lot of excitement, while there is a lot of anticipation, I will be also very honest, Bhoria, to admit that there is some amount of caution as well.
02:17Because all of us are slightly cautious that there should never be a positive case. But then you also know that there is so much of movement happening.
02:23Biosecure bubbles are great. But then there is a Jofra Archer or a Phil Simmons as well every now and then. So, what do you do then?
02:30So, you don't want any of the top athletes, any athlete, not top, any athlete to turn out positive in the middle of the tournament.
02:38And then, because that will derail the entire process. There is some amount of caution, but a lot of excitement and anticipation.
02:44A personal one before I get on to the tournament. I mean, you, for example, if you travel to the UAE, you have a young family, Akash.
02:51You have young children at home, 75 to 80 days with the quarantine going, with the quarantine coming.
02:57In that one hotel room, you will be stuck. You can't mix outside. What is this going to do to your mental health?
03:03That is a tough one. Honestly, I may not have the final choice, so to speak, because this is the tournament.
03:10But you want to be a part of that tournament. And therefore, it is going to take a toll.
03:16As a sportsperson, you understand extraordinary times. You are stuck somewhere. And this is how it's going to be.
03:21You have been watching the CPL. I have seen some of your videos also on the CPL. Several players are already playing there.
03:27Some will have some cricket behind them. Some will not. The Indians will not. The English and Australians will.
03:33They are playing international. Some are playing the CPL. How are you seeing the tournament?
03:38Can you just give me a brief analysis? The way you are seeing the tournament shape up. Some teams will have an advantage.
03:44Some will not. Some which have major Indian players might go in a little rusty. How are you looking at it?
03:48While a lot of chatter is about people playing in the CPL, the international experience, more than the experience actually,
03:55just match readiness, match preparedness. Because they would have played a few games getting into the IPL.
04:02For the first week, yes. For first game, second game, maybe yes. But then, you and I both know Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Bhoomra and the rest.
04:10And we all know that they are… Even if they are rusty, their rustiness will also be good enough.
04:17Rather than… It will be better than a lot of players at their peak. I don't see it as a huge concern.
04:23I don't see one team just running away because they have got people who are coming in from the CPL and from England and Australia.
04:31Or these two teams. And therefore, they will actually have an upper hand. It's a long tournament.
04:36Four team games. Everything is going to even out. I do have my favourites. I think there are certain teams that will eventually pick a lot of teams to the post.
04:44The team that I am picking has no Australians. No one CPL player. Has no English player. So, I am actually going with the Chennai Super Kings.
04:53I think they will do really well. And my interesting Dhoni… What are we talking about actually, rustiness?
04:57The guy hasn't played for a year and two months. He will not be rusty. Forget about the rest.
05:01Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Nair. All of us have celebrated the duo. Perhaps the last time. Who knows? Maybe one more time next year.
05:09What will this mean for them, Akash? As a former player, you have just bid goodbye to international cricket, which was your life.
05:16Now this is perhaps the last time. Nobody knows their minds. But what will this tournament mean for them?
05:22I mean, if you are to step into their shoes. And for the Chennai Super Kings. And for their fans.
05:26I think it will just liberate them. Because that's what happens. When you are out of the side and you are trying to make it into the side.
05:34The overwhelming thought, irrespective of where you are playing, who you are playing for, what the team is doing, what stage of the tournament.
05:40There is that thought. It's not even there at the back of your mind. It's actually capturing, occupying a lot of your mental space.
05:49That is with regards to coming back into the Indian team. Because that is the be-all and end-all of being an Indian cricketer.
05:55Now that burden is off their shoulders. And then, they could actually be that juggernaut that is unstoppable.
06:01They will enjoy their game. They will take a few more risks. Because they understand now that at times when you are trying to make it into the Indian team,
06:09or you are playing for the Indian team at that point in time, you are not that risky. You don't take risks.
06:13You play percentage cricket. And you value your wicket a lot more than you would otherwise.
06:18Now just imagine, everything else has evaporated. There is nothing. Just cricket and them.
06:23And you know the result that I think this liberation is going to cost a lot of opponents. And that's one more reason actually.
06:30Rustiness, yes. Old people, yes. But then, they do have that bowling attack that is ideally suited for UAE.
06:37As if they had picked the team knowing that the tournament is going to be in the UAE.
06:41And then these two guys, I think CSK is going to be that juggernaut.
06:46In fact, that was the next question. That move to the UAE has been almost tailor-made for Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
06:52Because it is Chennai going to the UAE. I mean, that pitch is taken there. And that is why his destiny is child.
06:58You pick a team for the Kolkata conditions and Eden Gardens. And all of a sudden, you are playing in the UAE with that heat and Aiden's spin.
07:06So, will that have a defining role, Akash, in the tournament?
07:09I think yes. Now, when we go into those dynamics, of course, some teams are better placed than the rest when we talk about the defending champions.
07:19And there is no better team to discuss than Mumbai Indians. Because 9 out of 10 times, they have got all their bases covered.
07:24But do they have the same kind of spin department this time around?
07:28The answer to that question is a no. Because if they knew that they will be travelling to UAE, they wouldn't have let go of Mahik Markande.
07:35They have a young Rahul Chahar, who is impressive. They have got an Anukul Roy, who is impressive.
07:39There is one more kid that they have picked from Punjab. Another leggy. But I think he is about 17 or 18.
07:44You have got a Kurnal Pandya and you have got a Jayant Yadav.
07:47Now, this is not the spin bowling attack that you would want to go in with, knowing fully well that Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are going to assist spin.
07:57And more so as the tournament progresses. Because these three pitches are going to get tired.
08:01Some teams are very nicely placed. Just in hindsight, look at that Ashwin move.
08:06If Ashwin was there at the Kings XI Punjab, the Kings XI Punjab team would have looked a lot different.
08:12But now, look at the Delhi Capitals. They have got him, they have got Sandeep Lamechhane, they have got Amit Bishra, they have got Akshar Patel.
08:17All four can actually play in the playing XI in all games. Now, this is quality. You are talking quality.
08:23And some teams, just by the stroke of luck, have found themselves slightly better players than the rest.
08:29VBS Laxman was on record, Akash, talking about the intensity. Saying, yes, so what if there are no crowds?
08:35And Rohit Sharma was sort of part of one of my shows saying, but we will still be playing for the fans.
08:40What is your take on that? I mean, the intensity and the commitment and the standard of cricket.
08:45Because ultimately, the consumption on television, people hearing Akash Vani and Akash Chopra,
08:49will perhaps be at its highest ever. So in that sense, the intensity will not be a problem, right?
08:54And more so, because these are professional players.
08:56Without doubt. I have got actually not even an iota of doubt in my mind, Bhoria.
08:59And since you had mentioned CPL earlier. So CPL commentary, I am looking from a complete outsider's perspective.
09:06I am sitting in my house and commentating. I am not even there at the ground.
09:09There is no crowd at the ground. And there is hardly any ambience noise that is coming through the fibre or the internet and the satellite.
09:17So ideally, this should have been a complete damn square. That you are not enjoying covering the spot.
09:22But I have not felt a difference. I am not even a player. I am just a commentator.
09:26I am looking at the action. I am trying to react to the action and present it in the best possible manner that I am capable of.
09:33If I did not feel a thing, I am 100% certain that the players are not going to feel too much either.
09:39Yes, it will be a shock to begin with. I remember actually, I think it was Glenn Phillip who was asked.
09:45And he said, you know, not having the crowd is a distraction. It should have been the other way around.
09:49But it goes away. So first game, second game, you are not used to not having people in the stadium.
09:55But it will not be beyond that. And everybody, I think, understanding the importance of sport.
10:01Because actually, I was talking to KL Rahul recently. And this is what he mentioned.
10:05That when you are not playing, then you realise the importance of cricket.
10:08That every game that matters so much. Just batting now, scoring runs, man, you do not want to go out of that space that you have.
10:17That's your escape. That's your isolation. And that is where you want to be forever.
10:22So you don't play for… Of course, you play for the fans. Of course, you want to be that guy, that artist who everybody is admiring.
10:28But you also know that there are still admirers. And eventually, you want to be the best that you can be.
10:33And it will be a good tournament. Trust me, it will be a fantastic tournament.
10:37I was watching this video clip, Akash, on Twitter. The Royal Challengers of Bangalore team meeting.
10:43Which was a virtual thing. It was tremendous. Virat Kohli saying, I have never done this for the rest of my life.
10:49I am sure the commentary does not do the same. Your thoughts on that?
10:52I was talking to someone and the guy was actually back opposite his room.
10:57And I said, can you say something to him from me? He said, I will have to call the room. I will have to use the house phone.
11:04I can't meet him. I can't see him. So we don't see each other anymore.
11:07Even though we are not just on the same floor, but next door to each other.
11:12So this is obviously slightly strange, Gauriya. But all of us also…
11:16But after six days, they can. After six days, they can.
11:18After six days, they will. And to be fair, all these things… See, there are certain things. There are quite a few things still.
11:25You are not used to staying to just be confined to your own room or just to that hotel.
11:30These are extraordinary times. But the fact also is that we have lost half a million people in the world.
11:35So when you know that so many lives have been lost, then you also realize that it's okay.
11:39We are still very blessed. God has been very, very kind. We are still doing what we love doing.
11:44We love doing. And we can still go out and play, man. It's okay.
11:47I will not walk out of this room because I have bigger responsibilities.
11:51And there is a lot of gratitude that I am still there because people are still fighting.
11:56A lot of us have not been as privileged or as blessed to be there where we are.
12:02So once that settles in, you say it's okay. This too shall pass.
12:07We are both stakeholders of this sport in a certain sense.
12:10I mean, we live this sport. It's given our livelihoods. It's made us who we are.
12:14And we've realized the importance of sport when there was no live sport.
12:18And finally, it's back.
12:19Can you pick up the commentator's microphone for the first game of the IPL?
12:23Take me there.
12:24That will be very special, actually.
12:25There will be a certain amount of nervousness also, I'll tell you.
12:28Whenever a new tournament starts, the tournament like an IPL or the World Cup,
12:32the first time when you pick up the mic, at least it happens with me,
12:34I've got butterflies in my stomach.
12:36I'm still thinking, in my head, I'm going through the scenarios that, you know,
12:40this is Mumbai Indians versus the Chennai Super Kings.
12:42These are the things, these are the players I'm going to see and say these things.
12:45Now, there is an added burden, to be honest,
12:47that there's a lot of people who are listening to you.
12:50It's exactly the same as it is for the players.
12:53But there's so many more people now are trying to enjoy something through you.
12:58So, you are that narrator.
12:59Happened to be that lucky one who's there in that comm box holding that mic.
13:04Now, you have a great duty to perform.
13:06Previously, it was only enjoyment.
13:08I was doing this because I love doing this.
13:10And I was, of course, blessed and God's been kind.
13:13But now, you have assumed another responsibility.
13:16That if you need to make this into a spectacle.
13:18This is a theatre.
13:19You have to ensure that people sitting at home,
13:23who have been deprived of live sport for so long,
13:26happiness, any amount of happiness or entertainment,
13:28they get what they deserve.
13:29And they deserve a lot.
13:30The entire world has gone through so much turmoil.
13:34And they still are going.
13:35This is one escape.
13:36And you cannot deny them that opportunity.
13:38That was the final one, Akash.
13:39You think it will make a difference to the country?
13:41I think it will make a huge difference.
13:43Because it's the kind of distraction that you want.
13:46See, there are things that are beyond your control.
13:48So, they say now control the controllables.
13:51And forget about the uncontrollables.
13:52What is happening in the world,
13:53besides fulfilling your own duty,
13:56wearing masks, social distancing, and all of that.
13:58There's nothing that you can do beyond that little bit.
14:01And maybe help people around you.
14:02But what next?
14:04Now, this is an escape.
14:05This is a distraction of the right kind.
14:07Where you'll actually be happy.
14:09And you'll be looking forward to something.
14:11Every single night for two months.
14:12And by the time the IPL finishes,
14:16we'll have something greater to cheer about.
14:20That vaccine is around the corner.
14:21The countdown has started.
14:22You've got to pack.
14:23Pack your N95 masks.
14:25Pack your sanitizers.
14:26Maintain your social distancing.
14:28Get your hair cut by your wife one final time
14:31before you embark on that flight.
14:33But more importantly,
14:34give all of your fans who listen to Akash Vanni
14:36and you on Star Sports a lot to cheer about.
14:39All the very best.
14:40Have a great tournament.
14:41And all of us, to everyone, cricket's back.
14:44Thanks for joining me today.
14:46Thank you so much, Gauri.
14:47It was a pleasure.