Playing in wrong era kept him out, but VV Kumar was never down

He may not have got his due during his playing days, but at 81,

VV Kumar

seems to have finally earned his recognition, with the BCCI recently nominating him for a Special Award for his contribution to Indian

cricket

.

"It was unexpected. I’m happy that I have been recognized by the BCCI. I should also congratulate the board for honouring cricketers such as Padmakar Shivalkar (Paddy) and Rajinder Goel (who were nominated for the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.) They truly deserve it," says an affable Kumar.

Kumar, who has a staggering 599 first-class wickets in a career spanning 22 years, managed to play only two Tests for the country as he was one among quite a few talented spinners who didn’t get their proper due in international cricket in an era dominated by the famous spin quartet — Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, S Venkatraghavan and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar.

Why did he not get to play more often for the country? "Perhaps I was bowling in the wrong era," says Kumar, who is still the byword for leg-spin bowling in the state.

"But I think it was more because ‘Tiger’ Pataudi, who led the Indian team for a considerable time then, never believed in any other slow bowler other than Prasanna and Chandrasekar — be it Tests or matches at the zonal level. Prasanna and Chandrasekar had a terrific strike rate. Chandra would give runs, but also take wickets in a heap. Pataudi had great regard for me and Venkat. But he felt nobody else could replace them. I feel that’s why I, Paddy and Goel didn’t get more chances," he adds.

Despite the national snub, Kumar kept weaving his magic, bamboozling batsman after batsman at the domestic circuit till 1977.

"I never felt I was left out. Some of my friends asked me why I kept playing. I would tell them that it’s about respecting the game. The decision to not pick someone is up to the selectors and the captain. As a player it is not right to say ‘I won’t play’ just because you are not picked for India. I wanted to prove that I’m one of the most successful bowlers at the top level," said Kumar, who now coaches three young leg-spinners (two from Australia and one from England) through Skype.

Calling Venkatraghavan as his motivator in the dressing room, Kumar says it he who brought "professionalism" into Madras cricket. "We played together for nearly 13 years and often had healthy arguments. I remember him telling me during a Rest of India match that it was an important match for me to get back into contention and motivated me a lot," says Kumar.

While not being part of a Ranji Trophy winning squad disappointed Kumar, he says the biggest regret of his career was dropping a return catch to dismiss the legendary Sir Garry Sobers in 1959.

"I was a part of the South Zone side which was playing a touring West Indies team in Bengaluru. At that time, I was a youngster trying to find my feet. I was up against Sobers. Sobers smacked the first one to fine-leg, then hit one through point. The third one was a googly in the middle. He charged down but checked his drive. He offered me a simple return catch and I spilled it. I felt like hitting myself with a stone. Dropping Sobers is probably my biggest regret. But I cherished getting Sunil Gavaskar’s wicket," said Kumar, who considers Yasir Shah as the world’s best leg-spinner at the moment.

Admitting to his "great admiration" for legendary leg-spinner Subhash Gupte, Kumar says never wanted to imitate him though. "I always wanted people to be themselves. Gupte was a good friend for whom I had great admiration, but I never wanted to be like him. I wanted to be Kumar."

All the while during the chat, we see a football lying in a corner of Kumar’s room. "That belongs to my grandson Aditya. Well, I couldn’t convince him to take up cricket. Aditya wanted only football and I thought if that’s his passion, so be it. I always encourage him in his pursuit. Now he represents a club in the football league in Chennai," Kumar adds.


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