Chennai: After scoring a plethora of runs in the domestic circuit for over a decade and a half, former India and Tamilnadu batsmen Subramaniam Badrinath has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday.
Badrinath who went on to become Tamilnadu’s ‘Mr Dependable’ by racking up runs, has scored 10,245 runs in 145 first-class games at an impressive average of 54.49. He did not play domestic cricket last season and took up the coaching role for the Kaaraikudi Kaalai during this year’s TNPL.
“It certainly has not been an easy decision, to be honest. I was pondering over it. Somehow my hand didn’t go into penning the letter last year but having turned 38, I have decided that it is the right time to leave,’ he said.
He has however represented India in only two Tests, seven ODIs and one T20I. He couldn’t really cement his place in a strong Indian middle order that had stalwarts like Sachin, Dravid and Laxman.
“My Test number 262 will be a very very special number and the cap that I received from my idol Sachin Tendulkar at Nagpur will always be special,” he said.
A batsman with a technique suitable for the longer formats, Badrinath however became the mainstay of the Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2013.
“I am thankful to skipper MS Dhoni, the best captain I have played under and of course the captain under whom I have played maximum cricket. I learnt a lot about leadership, remaining calm under pressure and the art of communicating even without talking,” he said.
Excerpts from his interview
Q: Looking back at your career, do you have any regrets?
A: To be honest I don’t have any regrets in my career. Of course, a sportsman’s life is his career There will be so many things that could have been or couldn’t have been, but at the end of the day, it was beyond my control. I would say one thing, Whenever I played for Tamilnadu I wore my heart on my sleeve and gave my hundred per cent. I tried my best from a team’s perspective, as a youngster and as a senior cricketer. But then that’s the way it happened. It has always been a dream to lift the Ranji Trophy for Tamilnadu but I wouldn’t call it (not winning the Ranji Trophy) as a regret.
Q: Looking back at the 2004 Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai, TN lost a very close match, does that still rattle you?
A: That was perhaps our best chance since we were playing at home in Chepauk. We won the toss on a good wicket and the onus was on our side. We could have done better in the first innings as a batting unit. When you bat first against a side like Mumbai, you have to put a lot of runs on the board and make it count. That was my second Ranji Final and it was important to seize the moment. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
Q: Which domestic season do you rate as your best?
A: I would rate 2010- 11 as my best. I got close to 1300 runs overall. I was batting at my best during that time. Even before a game, I knew I could get a hundred. I remember a match that we played against Hyderabad at Uppal, I told the coach that I am going to play some shots and still got a hundred without much effort. That year I was batting phenomenally well.
Q: Do you think you could have done anything differently when you played for India?
A: I couldn’t have done anything differently. As a batsman, you could only play Test cricket and get better. So it was important to get a decent run in Test Cricket and face some of the great bowlers whom otherwise you would not face anywhere else. Only then you would know what needs to be done to get better. Unless you are a Sachin Tendulkar, a born genius who can directly go
there and adapt to the conditions. So it was a learning curve.
Q: You played at a time when Indian middle order had some of the stalwarts like Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman. So did you ever thought maybe if you were born in a different era you would have played more matches for India?
A: If I had been born in a different era, I don’t know what would have happened but at the end of the day I tried to be the best that I can be and strived to progress and get better. I am happy with what
I have achieved. In hindsight, people never even thought that I could play T20 and to have played more than 140 games for CSK was phenomenal. I went on to play t20 cricket for India and even I never dreamt it myself. So looking back, I don’t have any regrets because I did my best.
Q: Do you see yourself being part of the Tamilnadu coaching staff.
A: As of now, I don’t know. Right now I have a role with a broadcaster and I wanted to spend more time with my family. If i become a part of the stateside, it requires me to spend 5-6 months. I don’t think I could do that now. But I am not ruling out anything and I will look at the option of having a stint with some franchise in IPL.
Q: You have been like a pillar in the Tamilnadu middle-order throughout your career and who do you think can replace you among the current lot?
A: This association has always produced players and the association has a strong league system that produces a lot of players if there is no Badrinath there will be always some good talent to replace. When you find a right talent it is important to persist with him rather than judging him based on a very few innings.