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India calling – Damien Martyn

Jaipur: Damien Martyn has been to India many times before representing his national side, Australia, and at times for commercial reasons. He has always enjoyed his time here and is happy to be back to a country that treats its cricketers so well. Playing for Rajasthan Royals this year, Martyn will be making his IPL debut.

During his weeklong stay in Jaipur, the Pink City, he found the mood to be very vibrant, similar to the colour and energy this part of the country is so famous for, he writes in his blog. Right from the hotel staff to the common man on the street, everyone seems to be looking forward to the next weeks of complete entertainment, is how Damien Martyn sees it. Rajasthan Royals’ base resembles a fortress with security guards hovering all around but it is not too different for him as compared to his previous trips with an international team. In fact, he finds it a little amusing having to go through a spate of security scanners to eventually reach his room in the hotel.

As the camp is about to end and the final squad takes shape, it breaks his heart to see some eager cricketers not making the cut.

He adds, “To be picked in the Rajasthan Royals’ final playing roster would be a life-changing experience for them and their family. Sometimes it is hard to understand but for those of us living in Australia, there are many ways to `make it’. Over here there might be only a few chances. To see their passion and enthusiasm for the game and determination to do well is a great message for everyone. Probably one that sometimes we can take for granted.”

It has been fun for him, trying to mix around with the local guys. He was surprised to find that a lot of the locals he met seemed to know more about him than he himself did. For instance, one player came up to him and said, “Sir, do you remember me? I bowled at you in the nets in 2001 down at Goa.” He smiled and said `yes’, to please the fan. The latter went on to thank his hero for a pair of gloves that he had gifted him nine years ago which he still uses to this day.

Martyn feels, “It is such stories that touch your heart and give you an insight into the lives of the people of India. It tells you what cricket means to them and how well-informed they are.” He feels that the regard they have for their cricketers is justified.

Martyn is keen on making a lasting impression with good performances in IPL 2010 and win as many Indian hearts as he can.

Kumble eyes glory in IPL 2010

It was hardly a surprise when Anil Kumble engineered a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second edition of the Indian Premier League. His insatiable hunger for victory has for long been his hallmark.

But touching the tape behind Deccan Chargers might have really hurt him, as the leg-spinner had never settled for anything less than the best during his 19 years of international cricket. Now, the veteran leggie will be eager to lay his hands on the glittering IPL trophy when the third edition starts. That Kumble will be back on familiar Indian surfaces will make him doubly dangerous. The Bangalorean does not need any tutoring on how to bowl on sub-continental pitches; there are a train of images that comes to mind while thinking of Kumble's dance of destruction.

Frontrunners in that long list are: the famous Perfect 10 against Pakistan, six for 12 against the West Indies in the Hero Cup final and then the vivid pictures of him teasing and tormenting English batsmen, especially Richard Blakey, in the 1993 series.

After all those tall deeds, there still might have been some doubts about him coping with the frenetic pace Twenty20. But on that magical night of April 18 2009 in Cape Town, all the scepticism was erased. The leggie bowled a wonderful spell (3.1-1-5-5) to derail the then defending champions Rajasthan Royals. After that Kumble never looked back, finishing as the second highest-wicket taker behind Deccan Chargers' Rudra Pratap Singh.

Jacques Kallis was widely tipped to take over RCB captaincy once Kevin Pietersen returned to England for the series against the West Indies, but Kumble pipped the South African for the post, and it proved to be the right move for the team. The 39-year old former Indian captian cajoled, pepped up and pushed his team-mates to give their best in the remaining matches.

Under Kumble's stewardship they looked a totally changed outfit, fearless and determined to walk that extra mile for a win. Importantly, local players like B Akhil and R Vinay Kumar too began to chip in more consistently under his guidance. It was a thrilling sight to see Kumble carrying the dual responsibility of captain and premier bowler with ease on his broad shoulders.

Now, in all probability, he will be the full-time skipper of RCB in IPL 2010, and all eyes will be on Kumble, captain superb and bowler magnificent.

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