Confident Tambe eyes IPL glory

RR leg-spinner speaks about his amazing journey

Doing the unexpected seems to have become a habit for Pravin Tambe. Not many know that Tambe tried his luck with a professional career in football and played tennis-ball cricket, before turning into a professional cricketer. And then, he was converted into a leg-spinner by accident rather than choice. Having played his first Indian Premier League game at the age of 41 and making his first-class debut at 42, Tambe is now raring to make a telling impact in the seventh edition of the IPL that kicks off on April 16.

He spoke to IPLT20.com about how things have changed in the last one year, his hunger to constantly improve and his journey towards stardom. The one thing that is reflected while conversing with the cricketer from Mumbai is his unconditional love for the game.

Excerpts from his interview:

On the last 12 months

I have been playing cricket for a long time and have always been taking everything positively. And the opportunity that I got last year has borne fruit now. I was selected in the Mumbai Ranji team as well. I have just kept playing. There is the IPL coming up now and RR bought me back, so I am positive. I have been practicing the way I have always been doing all these years. There is no change in that. The only thing is that my confidence has definitely increased.

On the changes he has made and is working on

We watch videos these days so everyone is aware of everything. I have made a few changes in my deliveries because you need to do something new, otherwise people start reading you. I have developed two-three new deliveries, including bowling from behind the stump to vary the length of the delivery and vary the pace. It becomes a bit difficult for the batsman to judge and I have got wickets doing that in the domestic T20 league.
So what I have been working on in the nets is giving results.

On his favourite delivery

The flipper, which skids after pitching up

On the saying that having a leg-spinner in side always troubles the opposition and creates breakthroughs

In T20, I have never thought about getting wickets. I only concentrate on stemming the flow of runs, and the wickets follow. Even if I don't get wickets, I am saving runs for my team. My main aim is to cramp the batsman and not let him get runs. And I know that if I am able to do that, then I will get wickets.

On RR bringing him back in the fold

When a team uses the "Right to Match" card for you, that means something. I feel good that they used the card for me and that has given me a lot of confidence. They have shown a lot of faith in me and I will be giving my best shot for them.

On RR being known as a team where everyone gets opportunities

In this team, all they tell you to do is express yourself. There is no pressure and that helps. They tell you to do what you know to do, and don't try to do something different. It's not like you have to do this or that. They never burden you with anything.

On how it feels knowing that quite a few Mumbai teammates are in RR

Yes, but RR has always played as a family. Now that there are few of us there, we will definitely enjoy more. The bonding is such that you don't feel the difference whether it is your first year or second.

On the wide age range in the RR squad

The way Paddy Upton and Rahul Dravid speak, you can feel that there are no seniors or juniors. And so you see performances in the team. Sometimes it is a youngster or sometimes an older player who performs. Everyone is treated equally.

On remaining the same person through all the ups and downs

It is all because of my love for the game. If you love the game, then age doesn’t matter. For me age is just a number. I have been playing regularly, so that reflects in the fitness that you see. All matches are the same for me. I have never thought of any match as boring or anything.

On his family background and him taking up sport as a profession

I used to go watch my father play in my childhood and since then I have been motivated to play. My son also plays. Earlier, he was more interested in football and now he plays cricket. Earlier, I used to play professional football and I was a tennis-ball cricketer. I have played football for clubs, divisions and Mumbai District Football Association. I have played for Tata Electric, and represented the Sandoz Company as well. But after being injured in one of the games, I stopped playing football and played cricket.

On how he decided on bowling leg-spin

I was a fast bowler earlier and bowled with the new ball for Orient Shipping. One day my captain asked me if I will bowl spin. He knew I used to bowl spin with the tennis ball, and so he asked me if I will bowl leg-spin for that particular match. I did, and I got three wickets and we won the match. Since then, I decided to bowl leg-spin. It's been about 13-15 years since I started bowling leg-spin.