EXCLUSIVE

Mumbai: Wasim Akram, arguably the greatest left-arm fast bowler, who is mentor and bowling coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), spoke to The Telegraph at the Trident, Nariman Point, on Wednesday afternoon.

Midway during the 45-minute interview by the poolside, Wasim (49) was joined by wife Shaniera, who arrived on Monday evening.

Shaniera declined a beverage, preferring coffee instead. "Women, you know, are always dieting," she quipped.

Excerpts from the interview with Wasim...

Q You must be pleased with KKR's form in this edition of the IPL. As we speak, the franchise is No.1 on the table...

A So far, of course. But the IPL is a long tournament and, so, no room for complacency.

[Late in the day, the Gujarat Lions displaced KKR. However, they've played an extra match.]

After 2012 and 2014, would it be KKR's year in 2016?

(Laughs) Hope so, but it's too early... It's one thing to be at the top in the first two-three weeks of the IPL, quite another to actually finish No.1... It's looking good, but so was it last year... I don't want to take anything for granted. We're on the right track, though.

Would you pick anybody more than the others for taking KKR to this position?

Gautam (Gambhir), the captain... He's been leading from the front, is so involved and has put in the hours... Gautam played the entire domestic season, which was one way of being in shape for the IPL, which is such a demanding tournament... Gautam is hungry to perform for KKR, which is great for the rest of the boys. I must add he's the first to train, even on days of optional practice and, when the captain himself sets an example, the rest follow. In the first eight years of my Pakistan career, Imran Khan showed us the way by personal example. We just followed, we had to.

In Jacques Kallis, KKR have a new coach. Just how much has been his contribution?

Some outside KKR were probably a bit sceptical when Kallis was appointed the coach, but nobody in the franchise had doubts at all. Often, less is more... He's a quiet person, but his is such a calming presence in the dugout... I'd say all of us in the support staff make it a point not to let our feelings show when it gets very tight out in the middle. After all, we have to stay calm or else the players will feel the pressure more.

I assume Kallis's stature has been of immense help...

Definitely. Kallis is the finest all-rounder I played against... Together with Sir Garry Sobers, he'd be the greatest in history. When somebody of that stature speaks, you listen. Then, don't forget that Kallis has been with KKR for years and, in 2015, was the batting mentor... As a player, I didn't like lengthy team meetings. For, if team meetings could win you matches, then why sweat on the field? Kallis, too, doesn't believe in team meetings which go on and on. He believes in saving energy during the training sessions as well. Short and sweet is his mantra... Of course, there's a focus.

What about your rapport with Kallis?

I respect Kallis... He gives me the space I need to work with the bowlers. Indeed, we're on the same wavelength.

How would you best describe KKR?

It's a very professional unit, very focused... The owners (Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi and Jay Mehta) have given the support staff the space we need to operate. We haven't been questioned on why X is playing or why Y isn't... I've been with KKR from 2010 and seen the ups and downs.

What is the difference between the KKR of 2010 and the KKR of 2016?

To start with, I was myself very new... I think KKR weren't consistent then, neither on the field nor, perhaps, with team selections and so on... Gautam was made the captain in 2011 and KKR have won the IPL twice after that. More than any other sport, in cricket, the captain makes the biggest impact. Leadership is the key in cricket and Gautam is at the top... You've been around for years and have seen the game from fairly close. You'll agree that leadership is the key... I'm not suggesting that Gautam is the only reason why KKR is doing so well, but it counts for a lot when the captain leads by example... Everybody's commitment to the KKR jersey is exceptional. There's oneness within. In fact, John Hastings, who had to return home owing to an injury, summed it up beautifully with his message on the team WhatsApp. He wrote something on the lines of KKR being the "best" team he'd played for. Of everybody being so supportive.

Well, what stands out in Gambhir's captaincy?

Irrespective of the situation, Gautam attacks. He'll have attacking fields, he won't let up. He'll himself go to short-leg... Gautam's mindset sets the tone.

You have a very good bowling attack...

Makes my job easier... In Shakib-al Hasan, we have the best left-arm spinner... Piyush Chawla is such a successful leg-spinner... Sunil Narine's credentials are known, he's changed his action and will require some time to get used to it completely... In Brad Hogg, we have a 45-year-old mystery bowler. He's among the fittest, mind you. I admire his passion... Morne Morkel is among the best fast bowlers... Umesh Yadav is there. Zabardaast bowling karta hai...Then, in Andre Russell, KKR have the finest T20 all-rounder... Hamara kaam to asaan ho gaya.

Morkel has shortened his run-up...

Yeah, Morne has shortened it by about three metres... He's probably extended his career by five years... He's comfortable with it, he appears relaxed. He's the one who has to run in and bowl.

The bowling apart, KKR have a good batting line-up. Your thoughts?

Suryakumar Yadav illustrates that so well... He was promoted to No.3 against Pune and he won us the match... Gautam has a lot of faith in him and that got justified... At the start of this IPL, I'd myself told Suryakumar that if he got in early, he should finish the match for KKR. That evening, he was there till the 16th over. He didn't slog, but played such a big hand with proper cricket shots. In the process, Suryakumar took the MoM award.

You were closely connected with the 2016 PSL...

I was the director-cricket of Islamabad United, the franchise which won the PSL... I had Russell, Shane Watson, Samuel Badree... Misbah-ul Haq was the captain, with Dean Jones heading the support staff... Played in Dubai and Sharjah, the PSL attracted a huge percentage of eyeballs back in Pakistan - 68 per cent. That phenomenal was the response.

What is the one factor which makes a telling difference in T20?

As they say, luck favours the brave, but luck hamesha kaam nahin karti ... Planning and execution are the most important elements... Mindset as well. So much of the cricket is played in the mind that you need to be clear about the way forward.

You played against the greatest batsmen, from Sir Vivian Richards to Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar... Where would you place AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli?

It's difficult to compare from one era to another... Both are incredibly talented and possess exceptional skills. If I was still bowling, I'd worry about bowling to AB in the last three overs of a T20 match... Virat has reached the stage where he knows how to get runs. Look at his statistics - 11 Test hundreds and 25 in ODIs... He's only 27... In this IPL, he's averaging over 90. Amazing.

But who would get your vote?

(Smiles) AB has a wider range of shots, but Virat's temperament stands out. Pressure doesn't get to him.

The other day, Ravichandran Ashwin told me that he regarded Virat as a genius. Your reaction?

I'd also label Virat a genius... Twentyfive ODI hundreds in less than eight years. That is something.

Is the game better today than when you retired, over a decade ago?

Cricket is much quicker nowadays... There's more variation from the bowlers, more improvisation from the batsmen.

Finally... Are you in favour of D/N Tests?

I am... Generally, Test cricket is struggling, then why not do something different? I can't understand why Boards are wary? The Board members won't play, the players will. Allow them the opportunity. Dekha to jaye.