The game has changed, but basics still remain the same: Wasim Jaffer

It's 1 pm and the sun is over the head. Still batting stalwart Wasim Jaffer is calm and relaxed, unaffected by the scorching sun staring hard from the skies. He is engaged in a conversation with a youngster where he is seen telling him about the nuances of batting.

In the time of Indian Premier League where batsmen do away with all the technique and copy book shots, Jaffer talking about playing in the V gives a different feel. The master batsmen of domestic cricket who failed to prove his potential at the highest level, Jaffer is testing waters as coach-cum-mentor at a private clinic — Centre of Excellence Scheme, under MCC-Jwala Sports Foundation, currently being held at the picturesque Police Gymkhana.

Jaffer is dedicated to his part time coaching assignment and is seen enjoying even as the sun is setting on his long and successful career.

“Coach tag pehli baar laga hai (Got this coach tag for the first time),” he says. “It feels nice. I am enjoying. When you tell someone something and if he applies the same and becomes a better player, it gives a lot of pleasure. I did all that later in my career later on. When Ajinkya and Rohit were around I did the same (mentoring), but today I am doing more at a professional level. Gives a lot of satisfaction,” he tells the media persons.

Like many, Wasim, too, is worried that technically right players and a top Test performer like Cheteshwar Pujara struggles to get a share of the IPL pie. “Obviously, its hard to digest. We all know the importance of Pujara in Test and First Class cricket. That India has won the recent series, I am sure people know the big role he has played. And to not pick a player like him in the IPL is a very hard fact. I think today's player should play all format. Today's player cannot live on one format. He has to be dimensional where he can adapt all formats of the game.”

“This is the demand of today's cricket. Its a challenge. He should know how to play all the formats. Cricket today is tough. At the same time basics don't change. We have seen Virat play. He doesn't hit sixes with reverse sweeps or a Dilschoop, but he still gets 900 in an IPL season. Basic doesn't change which is very important. The challenge for today's cricketers like Rohit, Ajinkya or a Virat they have to adopt all formats of the game. Adaptability has increased a lot,” he adds.

Wasim admits it's not easy to teach today's kids. “Cricket has changed a lot from when we started. It was orthodox. Today kids want to play shots that AB de Villiers plays. The game has changed, but the basics remains the same,” he adds.