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| Brendon McCullum at ITC Sonar Calcutta. Picture by Rashbehari Das |
Brendon McCullum thinks he is too old for “proposals”. After spending close to 30 minutes with the blue-eyed Knight at ITC Sonar Calcutta on Thursday, t2 would beg to differ... furiously!
You were taking a lap in the pool a few minutes back. Is that how you relax often?
(Smiles) It’s a form of fitness as well. I like to swim, like to golf… just like to stay reasonably active.
I try to stay reasonably relaxed any way. I catch up with friends… may be a nice glass of wine or a nice meal or golf. Obviously the game itself is really hectic. The travel is hectic as well... being a cricketer in India is pretty full-on! Come game time, you try and get your game face on.
Do you feel more pressure when you play IPL than when you play for New Zealand?
Different pressure… way different! The pressure of playing IPL is playing for one of the local teams… that pressure of the fanbase is there.
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KKR is No. 1 in the points table as we speak. So, a very positive mood in the dressing room?
Yeah, absolutely! Great bunch of guys and obviously a very, very good team. Skill-wise we are outstanding! It’s not always that the big skill teams are the best teams. What we are finding at the moment is that we are gelling as a unit. We get on brilliantly and the mix between the international players and Indian players has being fantastic. We have good management staff, good owners… good coaching stuff. Some of the things that we do are look at big pressure situations more as opportunities than be overawed by them. So, that’s the change I have noticed since the time I have been with KKR in the past.
We are enjoying being at the top of the competition and everybody is going to make sure that we continue with the momentum…. If we are able to do it, then the whole of Bengal would jump on board!
You have returned to KKR this season after a year. What other differences did you notice?
They are more mature. The franchise itself has evolved… has matured and become a lot more understanding about what they require and what the team requires. Everyone’s got a bit wiser and smarter about how we can get the best results. It is an incredibly well-run unit. We have got a very good captain. Noticed some pretty big changes. Not that there was a problem before… it was in its infancy. The competition was in its infancy and so was KKR.
What was the celebration like after the big Delhi win?
Pretty relaxed... we obviously won pretty well, but it’s too early to get carried away. We came back and there was a nice cake by the hotel. Not too much cake smearing because Jacques Kallis cut the cake and everyone’s quite scared of him to smear cake on him! A couple of guys may have gone for celebrations but nothing too extreme. We know a big job is in front of us in the next couple of weeks. I am sure (then) we will have a great celebration.
Didn’t you all get the famous Shah Rukh Khan hugs?
(Smiles) Shah Rukh’s great. He comes into the change room every day… we win, lose or draw. He has always been very affectionate. If you have played with your heart he is happy. You could not asked for a better owner. Jay (Mehta) is also absolutely brilliant. He’ll also come into the change room and give you a hug and if you have done well, he will give a pat on the back and if you haven’t done well, he will pat you on the back and say better luck next time.
Your captain Gautam Gambhir looks like he couldn’t hurt a fly off the field. On the field, he just transforms into this tough guy...
I have really enjoyed his style of captaincy. I have known Gautam okay before this competition from playing against him and sharing a few conversations. But when you play with someone, you learn so much about them. I have been incredibly impressed by his leadership qualities, his leading from the front and his measured approach to the game. He presses the right buttons at the right time. He includes guys. He asks a lot of his team and what he asks he would also do it himself. That’s the mark of a great leader. He is obviously stepping up with the bat and leading us strongly.
Your family is here with you. Any plans to take them around Calcutta and India in general?
A little bit… we went to a friend’s house the other night. We had a lovely dinner and just had a really good night! It was an experience for the kids too to go out… different culture… we have been around to a few golf courses. My wife (Elissa) and sister-in-law went to the Taj Mahal the other day. This is the family’s fourth time in India. They have become regular travellers here. My son (Roiley) turns eight in July and my daughter (Maya) two, also in July.
Anything special they shared with you about Calcutta or India?
They have told me that they don’t want their food too spicy (laughs)! Now my son can sing most of the Knight Riders song (Korbo lorbo jeetbo re)! He loves it and probably knows about every player in the IPL. And he obviously loves Shah Rukh!
What about your wife?
My wife goes about her work quietly. She really enjoyed the night-out at the friend’s house. She has also been to a couple of malls and picked up some fabrics. She seemed to have enjoyed the Taj too.
Why didn’t you go to the Taj Mahal?
I was on duty, looking after the kids! I have never been to the Taj. I will go once, but not when I am on a cricket trip. I find it too much of an excitement when I am on a cricket trip. I will save that one when I can come here for a holiday!
You said you’ve been to the golf courses in Calcutta...
The Royal Calcutta Golf Club has an outstanding golf course, a nice haven away from cricket....
You scored an unbeaten 158 in the first edition of IPL in 2008. Are you tired of the 158 tag?
I am a big believer that things happen for a reason. That was an amazing moment in my life as well as in IPL. It is something that I will always hold on to… but you also try to become a better player and I don’t think I will ever be able to have such a night again because all the stars will have to align for that!
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Juhi Chawla is exactly like we know her from her films — warm, bubbly and oh-so-friendly! t2 caught up with the KKR co-owner over the landline (yes, they still exist) last week.
The KKR website says you are looking forward to a ‘title-winning run from the Knight Riders this year’...
You know I don’t want to say anything before it is done…. Somewhere I heard (pauses)... nahin, main nahin kuch bolti hoon… but yes, I am very hopeful this year. It started off on a shaky note. But then they have been very steady, winning the last four-five matches in a row. What is nice is the team is getting on quite well together. When a team plays like a team and is not fractured by differences within players, there are more chances of it winning together.
I cannot remember the last time we saw KKR’s name at the top of the table for two weeks in a row. This feeling is great! The year before was still okay… but before that my kids used to cry and fight with me because they would get teased at school. This year they are going to school smiling and saying: “We are doing well and it is great to be up there”. So far so good!
A couple of years ago you had told us that Juhi Chawla is Cheerleader No. 1 for KKR. You still cheer the loudest, but we don’t see you that often...
Well… I haven’t been able to make it to some of the matches this season. Also, the first three-four years hadn’t been great for KKR. It had kind of quietened us down a bit. Now, we kind of contain our emotions when we are watching a match. We try to remain composed, whether we win or lose. We used to go overboard earlier. I guess that much emotional involvement should not be there.
Are you a little more involved in the team’s operations now?
No, no, no, a little less! Initially, I thought I would join in but I realised that meetings with Shah Rukh (Khan), Jay (Mehta, her husband) and the officials would only begin at 11 o’clock at night! I tried to be brave and sit through them, but I realised that I cannot do it! Now, we have a CEO in place... so, it’s all taken care of.
How much of a Calcuttan have you become in all these years?
I remember I got into this thing of going to the Kalighat temple. I wanted to pay my respects to Ma Kali… to take her blessings and also say thanks. Then I was introduced to a thalassaemia society in Calcutta. I have been going there regularly for the past two years. Whenever KKR wins, I pass on my contributions in my own little way.
You had done a Bengali film almost 20 years back (Amar Prem, opposite Prosenjit). But what has KKR taught you about Bengalis and Calcutta?
Oh my god! They are a lovely bunch! They love discussions on any topic! Intellectuals and happy to be so and have an opinion on everything and debate and discuss every little issue. They love their rasgullas and their fish. I am vegetarian and so I cannot touch that. And Bengali women are very beautiful! They have round faces like their rasgullas and their beautiful almond eyes and lovely complexion. That’s the Calcutta I know!
Have you invited anyone to the KKR box this year?
There are some who have been coming from the beginning… Usha Uthupji, then apna Bappi Lahiriji. Then actors Jeet, Jisshu (Sengupta), Dev and Rituparna (Sengupta). I am happy if anybody comes. I am literally a phone call away!
You had invited Mamata Banerjee to a match in 2010. Have you met her this year?
I met Mamatadi when she was the railway minister. I haven’t met her this year. She came for the first match, but I was in Patiala. I feel she is a woman of strength and she represents the people, the masses. I was amazed because when I went to meet her at her home, her home was such a humble little home! To see somebody from that background rise to such heights… she must have amazing strength and conviction.
Actress, KKR co-owner, mother... what is the secret of this juggler called Juhi?
(Giggles) I am really juggling, juggling! Sometimes, I get plain tired… (I think) may be, I should just focus on my career and then I’d be shining and I’d be way up ahead. But today, I read something lovely that made me feel good… “it is best to be balanced and successful… balanced before successful.” It would not be very happy for you if you were getting a promotion but your marriage was breaking up… or it would not be great if you were riding a Rolls-Royce but had back pain. It would not be of great joy if you were in the world’s most fabulous hotel but had no friends and family. That makes me feel better that I am still trying to balance (laughs).... All in all, it is a package. I am fine with it!
Tell us about your ‘Kurkure Aunty’ avatar...
(Laughs) It is a fun moment… funny yet warm. That was the brief given to me seven-and-a-half-years ago. I have had to play a lot of fun roles. In fact, I have done many more interesting characters in the ads than in all my films! I treat it like a mini-film. If I don’t like the script I tell them, “No… no… we have to make the script better!”
How much of the ‘Kurkure Aunty’ is you?
I do like to see the lighter side of life… but, of course, there are some serious moments… yes, on the whole, I do like to be lighter, happier and funnier and as I am getting older, I am realising that you cannot take everything so seriously and get upset over what is not right. You have to try and see the brighter and lighter side.
How is your next film Son of Sardar shaping up?
In this film, Sanjay (Dutt) and I are supposed to have got married 25 years ago but it got stalled because something happened. He took a vow. He said, “First, I’ll set this right and then get married!” So, now in the present day, there is this little romance going on between us, but he cannot get married. It is really cute, funny… It is a fun family movie with romance and action and lots of jokes.
A lot of the film is based in Patiala. It was wonderful as we were out there in a huge haveli, which had been extended with the help of art director Sabu Cyril. It was a huge unit… fighters, dancers…. It was great to be back with a Bollywood film set-up. It was great because I got to know Ajay (Devgn) a little more. I worked with Sanjay after a long time. And Sonakshi (Sinha), I have seen her as a little tot when I started working. Her mum used to make these perfect curls in her hair! To see that little girl is a heroine today….
Finally, we would like to know what does Juhi Chawla have for breakfast? What’s the secret behind so much energy and that ever-smiling face?
It is not my breakfast! I don’t know what it is! I am learning every moment. I have seen the highest highs and the lowest lows in my life. With my learning, I think I am moving a little towards spirituality, yoga, positivity… towards giving in life… towards charity.
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| Adrian Le Roux and Ranadeep Moitra at ITC Sonar Calcutta. Picture by Bhubaneswarananda Halder |
He’sknown to be a hard taskmaster and a disciplinarian but the Knights share a special bond with their physical trainer Adrian Le Roux. The strength and conditioning coach from South Africa got talking with t2 fitness columnist Ranadeep Moitra on April 27. Excerpts…
Ranadeep: Tell us a bit about your background...
Adrian: I studied at Free State University in South Africa. And then I got involved in Free State cricket. I came to India around end-2001... had a few years in India and South Africa, in cricket. And I’ve been involved with IPL for five years now.
What is your first tip to athletes, not just cricketers, to keep fresh and healthy?
There are a few basic exercises that you need to learn for any sport, which we refer to as base strength. You need that for any sport, whether rugby, cricket, swimming or anything. The base strength and base running fitness are important.
There are various attributes to fitness like flexibility, strength, endurance.... How would you rate these in terms of importance to cricket?
The most important is aerobic competence. First you develop a strong aerobic baseline and then work gradually on the other attributes like speed and anaerobic and plyometric movements.
Who would you say is the fittest in Team KKR?
It’s difficult. It depends on power to weight ratio. Different players have different strengths, depending on their position in the team, depending on if they are a bowler or batsman. I don’t like to mention names, as each of them has a specific role in the team.
What qualities set you apart as a trainer?
The most important thing is people skills. In a training environment, if you are working with a team, you are working with people. If you walk into a team and you are one-minded you will probably struggle. So you need to understand how players think. You need to accommodate them.
During IPL, the team’s schedule is erratic and gruelling. How do you ensure that players are on track with diets, hydration, rest and recuperation?
The first thing we tell the players is that sleep is very important. We advise them at least eight hours of sleep. Hydration is the next important thing. Depending on whether the day is active or relaxed, we give them a chart for hydration. Then we advise them on their nutrition. We also use active recovery sessions, we use the pool, hot-cold therapy....
We try not to book a flight at seven in the morning so that the players can rest and sleep. All our flights are either in the afternoon or later.
Readers would like to know about the fitness of local lads like Manoj Tiwary, Debabrata Das and Laxmi Ratan Shukla...
I am very happy with the Bengal boys. The advantage we had was that I was able to work with them for five seasons. They didn’t go in and out of the franchise. It was nice to share information with them, which they accepted and made a decision that they wanted to get fitter and better.
What in your opinion makes a good strength and conditioning coach?
They need to understand the game [Twenty20]... that it’s short. The intensity is a lot higher than other formats of the game. Here bowlers need different fitness than batsmen, but everyone must be able to field. You need to get all the guys as fit and as agile as possible.
Recently there has been a boom in “old school of training” like tyre flipping, sled pushing, kettlebell, Indian clubs and CrossFit. Your thoughts...
I think CrossFit is fantastic! There are different types of exercises in CrossFit. The nice thing about it is that it’s for the entire body. It’s functional exercise that you do, be it for rugby, cricket or tennis.
What are your personal goals as fitness coach?
I must say I enjoy IPL and KKR specifically. It’s nice to be involved with the franchise for a while and see how it has developed. There are some other sports I look after back home. But cricket will always be my first love in terms of conditioning. In terms of KKR, it has been a good journey, and I will try to continue that as long as I can.
What’s your advice to a youngster wanting to make it as an S&C coach?
The best advice I have got is, make yourself an expert in a certain area. So if it’s cricket, it’s cricket. Obviously you need a bit of background in everything, but once you have decided you are going in a certain direction, you need to specialise.
What is your personal fitness regimen like?
I am a runner, so most of the work I do, especially back home, is basically running. It may be in triathlon or in adventure sports.
Are you preparing for any event right now?
I am trying the road-running stuff like trail running and adventure running. We have something called Sky Run back home, which is an adventure run for 24 hours. I plan to do that in late-October. It is a long and tough ride, so you need the whole year to train for it.
Finally, any fitness advice for those who enjoy recreational sports?
Well, that depends on what type of sport you do. If you do a sport on a social level, make sure you enjoy it. Say, you decide to do a half-marathon but are not prepared for it, then you will struggle. Even if you do it on a social level, and you are a sort of weekend warrior, my advice is do some kind of preparation, even if it’s of a low intensity. But don’t take on challenges if you aren’t prepared. For you to enjoy, you need a level of fitness.
