What I learned from IPL is whopping, beyond words

BANGALORE: Royal Challengers Bangalore might have tripped at the last hurdle in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League's 4th edition but their highest wicket-taker S Arvind has reaped name and fame with his exploits in the T20 event. The Bangalorean bagged 21 wickets in his IPL debut season with his left-arm seam bowling and was easily the franchisee's leading local flavour.In a matter of just six weeks,the 27-year-old has enhanced not just his popularity in the Indian cricketingdomain but also reputation. Looking back at his IPL deeds with satisfaction,Arvind is confident of extending his sunshine form into the next domesticseason, hopefully across all formats. The captain of KSCA league championVultures CC is however not done yet. The soft-spoken, ever-smiling chap fromMathikere is now busy shifting to his new apartment near Peenya but found timeto share his highs and gains with STOI. Excerpts:How youdifferentiate Arvind the cricketer before and after IPL-4?To behonest, life hasn't changed much and I am in the same world comprising my groupof friends and family members. As a cricketer, the only change I could feel isthe confidence level. More than the wickets I got, the experience of playinghighly-competitive cricket and sharing the dressing room with players of highrepute have influenced me a lot. The positives that I gained from IPL is simplywhopping and there are no words to describe that wealth. What wasthe secret behind the success?Everyone talked about me as a line-and-length bowler. I am happy that I didn't disappoint those who trusted me. But I enjoyed my success while experimenting with my variations. Zak (Zaheer Khan), Dan (Daniel Vettori), Anil Kumble, Venky (Venkatesh Prasad) and Ray Jennings can claim a big share in my success for their inputs have been immensely useful and highly productive.Zaheer Khan was always inconversation with you whenever you had the ball in your hand? What sort ofimpact it had on your performance?The captain (Daniel Vettori) wassuffering from a knee niggle most of the time and he couldn't move around theway he wished. But we never felt like there was a communication gap. Zaheerchipped in to offer valuable thoughts on the field and that was just theextension of the conversations we had off the field, whether in terms ofexecuting the plans against a particular team or generally about outswingers,inswingers and the like. Each and every discussion with experienced playersincluding Zak and AB (de Villiers) offered me a fresh lesson. I feel the impactof those discussions will go beyond just a single IPL season.Talkingabout variations, those different types of slower deliveries stood out in termsof success rate and accuracy. Did you work specifically on slower deliveries forIPL?I have been using slower deliveries of different kinds for thepast four years. I mainly used back-of-the-hand and off-cutter deliveries in theIPL. Venky as bowling coach helped me to hone my skills in that area,particularly about the timing of the execution of suchdeliveries.You are one of those cricketers who emerged fromtennis-ball cricket? How has it helped while shaping your cricketcareer?Tennis-ball cricket is all about passion where you play justfor the love of the game. There is nothing else in terms of your future or moneyinvolved. I think that passion passed on and I deliver my duties with the sameattitude now. It's sad that tennis-ball cricket is dying in Bangalore becausethere are not many grounds available these days. But it is very active in placeslike Mangalore and Udupi and there is some serious talent availablethere.How you look at your future now against the backdrop of IPLsuccess?I surely can't sit on my laurels. Every level I play iscompetitive and I know plenty of talented players will come up and push fortheir places. That is a blessing because I can't take my place in any team forgranted. I love to learn more about the game. For me, every match, whether it isIPL, league cricket or Ranji Trophy, offers an opportunity to improve on myskills. Fitness is the key to success in the sport and I am committed to put inmy best effort all the time. Success should breed hunger and IPL has come as theright kind of motivation for me.QUOTE HANGER: Tennis-ball cricket isall about passion where you play just for the love of the game I think thatpassion passed on and I deliver my duties with the same attitude now.