I am good at making speeches: Azharuddin

Dispelling notion of him being not good at communication even when he was the captain of the Indian cricket team, Mohammad Azharuddin told Swati Chaturvedi of Zee News during the talk show- ‘Kahiye Janab’ that he infact was good at making speeches.

“I always spoke to the player whom I wanted to speak to and remained strict where I was needed to,” he said. “All these things were never highlighted in the media because the relationship between the captain and the player is personal. So I never thought it wise to reveal whatever conversations I had with my team. I do not think I would have maintained my position as the Indian captain if my communication skills were so bad”

Since setting ablaze the international scene with centuries in each of his first 3 Tests, Mohammad Azharuddin’s life has rarely followed a predictable discourse. Bestowed with a rare bounty of talent, he dazzled cricket world with the sheer wizardry with which he flaunted his craft of batsmanship. From an unassuming lanky teenage sensation to India’s most successful Test captain (for some time), and till his career was cut-short due to match-fixing controversy, Azhar has been an unending enigma.

On the match-fixing episode, which remains a blot on his glorious career, Azhar maintained his innocence.
“I did no wrong, he said. “So I don’t feel bad. I don’t have guilty conscience.”

“Even 9 years after I quit, people still treat me with same love and affection. Some have even asked me to take up cricket again.”

On weather he went through any emotional upheavals during the episode like Kapil Dev, Azhar said that unlike India’s World Cup winning skipper, he was not an extrovert.

“Kapil Dev is a very emotional person.”

“We do meet often. Recently he sent me an SMS and offered to campaign for me,” Azhar disclosed.

Azhar also did not feel anything wrong with cricketers taking up endorsements as long as their performances remained unaffected. “It is good if it doesn’t affect their performances. Being a cricketer requires a lot of sacrifices being made and hard work to be put in. if endorsements provide them a financial security, it is good.”

“The Indian team is currently performing and is on its way of becoming the No. 1 ion all the three formats,” he said.

Azhar also expressed keenness to be formally associated with the team in any capacity, if BCCI so desired.
“I m ready for it if the Board (BCCI) wants.”

A lot of youngsters however do seek advice from him, Azhar said

“Lots of them…especially from England. But I do not publicise because it is between me and them. If my advice benefits them, I feel happy.”

He also added, “Highs and lows are part and parcel of one’s life. Harsha Bhogle has always called me the ‘Destiny’s Child ’. The three most important highs of my life have been; first, the three centuries on my debut series. Then, scoring a century on the Lords was special. Before leaving for England, my father had asked me to score a century there. And I did that. And finally, all the victories by India during my captaincy were special for me.”

“The most important low in my life came when my grandparents expired. The match-fixing controversy also affected me deeply. Also whenever, India lost, I took it as a low in my career.”

When asked if the seniors in our team are allowed graceful exit, he said, “According to me, Ganguly and Kumble made great exits. The BCCI also felicitated them.”

“Pressure is always there in cricket. But if you are playing well, you don’t need to worry. You then need not think about retirement. The decision to retire is personal. But I do not know how it feels because I was never given the opportunity to retire.”

Adapted by: Pratik Dogra and Sudeshna Guha Roy