People will take Vidarbha seriously now: Wasim Jaffer

In Vidarbha’s maiden Ranji Trophy win, veteran Wasim Jaffer has not only made vital contributions with the bat but also mentored young players. He tells G Krishnan that the latest win is as special as the eight titles he won playing for Mumbai. Excerpts:

Having won 8 Ranji titles for Mumbai, how special is the win with Vidarbha?

It is very special, especially because nobody expected them to win at the start of the season or even when I joined Vidarbha (2015). Obviously, they've only played quarterfinals once or twice before. They are one of the lesser-known teams. It is a very very special feat for all of us who were involved with the side. The way we played, it was not a fluke. We have beaten good teams quite convincingly. Apart from the Karnataka (semifinal) game, we beat most of the other teams quite easily. That is something special. People will take Vidarbha seriously now. As a team, we now have the pressure to perform consistently. We have now set the benchmark and have to play according to that.

How different was this from winning titles for Mumbai?

It is quite different. When I left Mumbai, I personally did not think of playing another Ranji Trophy final, leave alone winning. Obviously, it is quite special. When you play for a team like Mumbai, with the kind of players we used to have, it was quite achievable. Every season, we went into the tournament thinking of winning the trophy, and we won quite a few. Even if we lost in a season, we used to come back hard and win the trophy the next season. So, when you play for a team like Mumbai, you are expected to win. But for Vidarbha, it is quite special. Leaving Mumbai and playing there, and helping the youngsters become better players gives me a lot of satisfaction.

When you left Mumbai in 2015, what was your expectation?

I went to Vidarbha primarily because I did not want to join any other team that did not have a vision of winning. There were quite a few teams that approached me but I wanted to go where I could contribute and enjoy my cricket. I did not want to go just for the sake of money. Vidarbha was the right place for me where they wanted to learn, wanted to improve, wanted to become good cricketers and the administrators wanted to help. That was a perfect place for me. This season, I have enjoyed my cricket even more. I missed the whole of last season (because of injury). I wanted to come back and enjoy my cricket and this was a perfect gift, to play good cricket, enjoy helping the youngsters. Nothing can beat winning a Ranji Trophy.

Captain Faiz Fazal said after the final that winning Ranji Trophy was bigger than the only ODI he played for India. You have played more than 30 Tests. Where do you place your 9 Ranji titles vis-a-vis representing the country?

Playing for India is more an individual goal, while when you are captain, winning Ranji Trophy matters even more because it is a team thing. When you have personal goals, playing for India is also very important. Those are two different goals – individual and team. When you become a captain, you think about the team winning all the time. You want to do well as a player also. It gives a lot of satisfaction when the team does well and lifts the Ranji Trophy. I have been through that. For somebody like Vidarbha, which has never won before nor even entered the semifinal, for them to win a Ranji Trophy and be a captain of the side, I can imagine the emotions he must be going through. It is a piece of history that we have written, and being a captain is amazing. People always remember when was the first time you won a Ranji Trophy. And, to be part of that team is amazing.

Do you remember your first Ranji Trophy title?

Yes, very vivid in my memory. In 1996-97, my first season under Sanjay Manjrekar. We played a day-night final against Delhi (in Gwalior). I was very young, did not know much about first-class cricket. When you are 18-19 years, there is not too much going in your head. You just go out there and enjoy the game. I got 60-something in that game (58 as opener). Getting to win Ranji Trophy in my first season is always amazing. Once you start tasting the success of winning, it does not give you any other joy. Winning is everything. Hopefully, these guys in Vidarbha will follow these things – that winning is everything. Once you start enjoying the win, then losing hurts. Hopefully, that culture should stay in their game.

Vidarbha players looked up to you. What precisely was your role?

Winning obviously is everything. You want to perform well. But, if you perform well and the team does not win, it does not give you that much joy. Even a small contribution that helps the team win gives you much satisfaction. I feel scoring runs and helping these youngsters who you know have got talent but need to be nurtured, give them a piece of your advice whatever they lack, and they start picking up those things and become better players. There is no such joy like that. When I was playing for Mumbai, I did not have to do that much work because Mumbai players are more mature and have got more exposure. But in Vidarbha, when I looked around at the start of the season, I saw so much talent around but they needed to be guided. Once they start having that belief and the confidence, you know what you can achieve. Players like Sanjay Ramaswamy, Aditya Sarwate, Rajneesh Gurbani… nobody has heard their names before. They needed some confidence and self belief. They have been noticed now.

It could not have been a better finish than scoring the winning runs for Vidarbha in the final. How pleasing was it?

It was very pleasing. Obviously, I have been part of 8 Ranji Trophy wins but don't remember playing in a final where we had to chase. Most of the times, it was the bowlers taking the last few wickets. The Almighty had different plans. Throughout the season, the openers Faiz Fazal and Sanjay gave starts but this was one rare chance when Faiz unfortunately got out early and I scored the winning runs. It makes it even more special.

Last season Gujarat won their first title, but not maintain the same form this season. How difficult is it to play as Ranji Trophy defending champions next season?

It won't be easier to repeat these kinds of performances. All we can do is work hard and play like we played this season and see how it goes. It was not easy this season either. When you have this kind of a season, the oppositions are more prepared. To win a Ranji Trophy, a lot of things need to go for you. You need luck, players need to be on top form. You don't win Ranji Trophy just like that. As long as you work hard and work on the processes like we did this season, those are the things in our control. If we do that, the results will take care of itself. Preparation is in our hands, not the results.

Wasim Jaffer is normally associated with bagful of runs. This season, you totalled less than 600. Is age catching up?

To be honest, I have got starts in most of the matches. I have not got out for a single digit score this season. I got 30s and 40s that got me frustrated at some point. Once I get set, I generally go and score runs. This year has been different. Even though it is nice to get starts, I could not get the runs that I am used to. I could have easily ended up getting 800-900 runs. At this stage of my career, that doesn't matter as long as I get runs for the team when it requires most. I felt runs in the final (78) and against Goa (158*) where the game could have gone either way, I played my part. I know I could have done better. I have set a benchmark for myself. I have not fulfilled it completely. But I don't think 595 is bad. Hopefully, next season, with a little bit more preparation and hard work, I will get more runs. But as long as the team wins, it gives me a lot more happiness.

What keeps you going?

I am still enjoying playing cricket. That has not diminished. At this age, I need to keep my fitness, be on the same level as most of these players. As long as I am fit and am enjoying my cricket, there is no reason to quit. I know I don't have many seasons left in me.

What is that makes Chandrakant Pandit turn a team like Vidarbha into a champion outfit in his first season?

Pandit played probably the most important role. Vidarbha is a good side but sometimes, I felt that they play in their comfort zone, they don't push themselves that hard. I felt Pandit has brought them out of their comfort zone, made them realise that they needed to pull up their socks. There were four or five players that played last year but for some reasons, he dropped a few of them. He created that environment that the team comes first. Nobody was certain of their places. He brought a lot of fitness and discipline in the side. He formed a couple of committees within the team – the entertainment committee, the travel committee, the food committee. Before each game, the entertainment committee had to put up a show for the rest of the team, the food committee will arrange a team dinner and the travel committee will look after travel arrangements. Everybody was involved. We did most of the things as a team. That played a very important role. He made them realise that playing as a team and staying together can do wonders.

Was Pandit hurt when he was removed from Mumbai side despite taking them to the final last season?

I don't think he had to prove anything to anybody. His CV speaks for himself. He has won many Ranji Trophy titles for Mumbai as a coach and a players. Obviously, he must have been hurt, taking the team to two finals, winning in one of them (2015-16) and losing the other (2016-17). But, it worked in favour of Vidarbha.

What next?

I don't know. I was on one-year contract. Let's see. The team is going to play T20. I am not going to play T20. I might probably travel with the team as a mentor. Irani Cup is in March, I will prepare for that.

Being away with Vidarbha for three seasons, how do you follow Mumbai cricket?

Being a Mumbai player for so long, born and brought up here, you cannot miss Mumbai cricket. Obviously, I can't comment too much about how they operate as I am not around to question that. It hurts to see them lose or to see them do badly. I used to hear that if Mumbai cricket is good, Indian cricket is good. I would like to see those glory years come back. There is no greater joy than to see Mumbai do well. There have been so many great cricketers come from Mumbai and you want to see that again. You don't just want Mumbai players to represent India but you want Mumbai team to do well. Ultimately, the Indian cricket will do well.

Given an opportunity, would you come back and serve Mumbai cricket?

Obviously, playing for Mumbai is not in question. I left in 2015 with the only reason that I did not want to come in the way of any youngster. Siddhesh Lad was coming in, Suryakumar Yadav, Akhil Herwadkar, Shreyas Iyer were all coming in. In any other capacity, why not?

It has been 10 years since you last played Test cricket. How do you look after your Test career?

I consider myself very fortunate. From where I started, from the humble background I come from, I could not afford a bat or any cricket gear. My father worked really hard and had a dream that one of his boys could play cricket. I was fortunate to make his dream come true. I know I could have played more and done well. I am not one to regret. I would rather be thankful for what I could achieve rather than regret for the things I did not achieve. I believe in you getting what you deserve and destiny has a part to play in everything. I was fortunate enough to represent the country and am thankful for that.

What do you cherish most about your Test career?

First of all, to represent the country, getting to play Test cricket. There are so many players who work hard day and night to get that Test cap. It was a great honour. Getting a couple of Test double hundreds against two very good teams, Pakistan (202 in Eden Gardens, Dec 2007) and West Indies (212, Antigua, June 2006), getting a hundred in South Africa (116, Cape Town, Jan 2007), where no Indian opener has ever got a Test century. Getting a hundred against a quality attack of England (100, Vidarbha, March 2006), winning a Test series in West Indies (2006), winning a Test series in England (2007), those are the cherished moments. To be highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy, highest century scorer in Ranji Trophy, highest runs in Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup, Vijay Hazare Torphy, I feel proud about those things. Playing first-class cricket for this long, god has given me that opportunity. I am highest run-scorer in four tournaments, why should I have any regret?

How do you see the current Indian team under Virat Kohli?

The game has changed. The players have become more aggressive. Kohli has got a different level of game altogether. The kind of person he is, the intensity he brings, he is one who likes to stay out of his comfort zone, he wants to achieve things we have never achieved. With his attitude, he wants to win outside India. You can look at his career and see at 29, he is ahead of so many players. The way he has transformed after 2012, the fitness levels he has got to the Indian team. The way he has made himself fitter from the chubby young boy who was with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008, we know how much sacrifice he must have done. He has kept himself out of the comfort zone and he wants to do that with the Indian team, which is now in great hands. With Virat around, we could achieve tremendous things under him.

What adjustments does the team have to do in South Africa, having yourself played there?

They have all played before in South Africa. I don't think it is going to be too much of a change. It is about getting adapted to the place as quickly as they can. More than anything, the first session or probably the first day of the Test is very important. Batting or bowling first, once we start well, it will make a difference. It is about getting the momentum. This team looks like we can turn the tables around this time.

JAFFER IN RANJI TROPHY 2017-18

Matches: 9
Innings: 13
Runs: 595
Highest: 158*
Average: 54.09
100/50: 1/3
Catches: 14

N ZONE

9 No. of Ranji Trophy winning teams that Wasim Jaffer has been part of – 8 with Mumbai and 1 with Vidarbha

10,665 No. of Ranji Trophy runs scored by Wasim Jaffer from 1996-97 to 2017-18, the most by any in this tournament

DID YOU KNOW?

• No other batsman has scored more than 36 centuries in Ranji Trophy than Wasim Jaffer
   
• Jaffer is the only Indian Test opener to register a century in South Africa -- 116 in Cape Town in 2006-07