'If I had a godfather, I wouldn't have had a raw deal'

Sunil Joshi grew up in humble surroundings in Gadag, a small town in Karnataka. Though he started cricket at an early age and shone through at the junior level, playing for India was a distant dream.

Without a professional coach, he surged forward, still oblivious that his talent would be worth a place in the national team. His brother, who passed away in 2002, and his Karnataka teammates added confidence to his diligence.

The next step was an India cap. Joshi hurt his spinning finger on his Test debut and had to return from England without any contribution. The journey has had his highs and lows since.

The left-arm spinner speaks to Cricket Correspondent Deepti Patwardhan about his five years in international cricket and his formative years in part two of an exclusive interview.

You didn't exactly set the stage on fire during your international debuts.

The Test debut (against England in Birmingham in 1996) wasn't very good because I fractured my spinning finger. It didn't happen when I made the one-day debut in Sri Lanka, but luckily I didn't have any injuries after that.

Were you thinking of the record (nine wickets and a century in the same match) when you resumed your innings on 71 and were out on 92 against Bangladesh?

I wasn't thinking of the record at all. We were in a situation -- 170 for 6 we just had to bat through the day. Sourav got out in the 90s and told me on the way back to continue batting. Ajit (Agarkar) and I batted out till lunch the next day.

I didn't know about it (the record), I read it in the papers. I wish I knew it earlier then maybe I would have got the hundred.

Yes when you reach so far and don't get a hundred, it is disappointing. But then there aren't too many people who would have got to 92 and taken nine wickets in a Test.

How special was the 5 for 6 against South Africa?

That was a dream come true. Before we went to South Africa for the four-nation tournament I wasn't in great form of bowling. I was short on confidence and spent a lot of time with Bishan Singh Bedi in Delhi. I dedicated my performance to him. He was the person who brought up my confidence level.

Again the responsibility was on me. Sachin wasn't there, Anil wasn't there, Jadeja was leading the side. They said I had to take care of the spin department.

Do you perform better when given added responsibility?

You have to think a lot when the responsibility is on your shoulders, especially in bowling, because you know the other spinner is not going to bowl that well. So there is more pressure on you. This is where I like to tell the young spinners whatever the senior does you just keep bowling. Don't try to do too many things, leave it to the seniors to experiment.

You had the best story of courage and grit to tell, when you traveled 40 miles every day just to get to the cricket ground.

It was a long journey from Gadag to Hubli. For a good seven or eight years I did that every day. When I look back, I can say at least I have achieved something with my talent and sheer hard work.

Is it a fairytale turned sour?

You feel bad because you haven't done anything wrong. That's when you get hurt. When you have done well, you are not given enough time to settle down. If I had a godfather, I wouldn't have had a raw deal in the national team.

Was your family supportive of your decision to take up cricket?

My parents supported me right through my cricketing career. My brother was the one who took me to the ground and honed my cricket skills. He passed away two years ago.

There was the India-Pakistan Test in Bangalore in 1987. I wanted to watch the match on television and told my father so. But he said we couldn't afford a television. But I was desperate, so the next day my brother went and bought the television set for me.

Where did you start training professionally?

I never went to any coaching camp or academy. There was a team A K Industries in Hubli, they used to play in senior division in Bangalore. My brother told the captain that I should be allowed to practice with them. Then I played the state under-15. They realised that I had something in me to play for Karnataka, so they boosted me with coaching practice. Then I played under-19 and moved on smoothly from the age group to the Ranji Trophy team. I made my debut also in Hubli in 1992.

Does the memory of that early struggle still keep you aiming for the India cap?

When I bowl in a crunch situation, I know at the back of my mind that whatever hard work I have put in is giving the response today. The resolve becomes stronger every season.

Is it difficult getting into the Indian side now that Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh have done so well?

No, I don't think so. There is always a chance for a player who does exceptionally well. That is why I said if domestic performances were considered to be the step to get into the Indian team, if selectors take notice of that then I don't know why I can't get into the national side.

I agree that it will be difficult to displace Kumble and Harbhajan from the team, but still there is a chance for a left-arm spinner.

But Murali Kartik is being groomed into that role.

I like that kind of healthy competition. Definitely I can do batting, bowling and fielding; that's why I think I should be there.

Our country plays so much of cricket that there are always niggling injuries. So whenever the main bowler is not fit, suddenly out of the blue they will call some experienced guy. They have got to see if he is playing domestic first and whether he is fit.

Then injury to either Harbhajan or Kumble becomes imperative for you to get into the team.

Of course. I am not saying they should get injured but there is always a chance.

During the one-day final at Eden Gardens last year (against Australia in the TVS Cup) I heard Sunil Gavaskar was saying, 'Where are the all-rounders? Where are the Joshis and the Agarkars? They have gone. Why can't the people handle them?'

When it comes to getting 25, 30 runs, when India needs those crucial runs we play an important role. I personally felt very happy that Sunil Gavaskar still remembers me.

Do you think your age and experience will help you make a comeback?

Obviously. When you play 14 seasons for your state you have so much experience.

I have also done level three coaching. It makes a player a better cricketer. Unknowingly you make so many mistakes. So now that you have gone through the course, automatically it will help you improve. Firstly, physically you try to be fitter. Second, technically you know what works and third is your experience also counts.

Are you planning to take up coaching?

I haven't taken coaching so seriously. I am not planning to coach in the near future. I just did the level three because I wanted to learn something. I believe in learning every day. If you stop learning, you can't progress.