In an exclusive interview with Rising Kashmir correspondent Shafat Malik, JatinSapru, the renowned Indian sports television host, broadcaster, and cricket commentator, delves into India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign. Sharing his experiences and insights, Sapru discusses the pivotal factors behind the team’s success, the emotional retirement of cricket legends ViratKohli, Rohit Sharma, and RavindraJadeja, and the future of Indian cricket. Sapru, a familiar face on Star Sports, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the journey that led to India’s historic win after 17 years, highlighting key moments and the impact on the global perception of Indian cricket.
Excerpts:
RK Correspondent: What was your experience like as part of the Indian contingent during this historic tournament?
JatinSapru: You know, I’ve been involved in almost every World Cup that India has played since 2009. Being close to the players during their practices, witnessing their stories, emotions, ups, and downs, you feel deeply invested. So, when the team achieves success, it’s not just a relief as a spectator but a profound joy knowing the hard work and dedication these players have put in. It was an incredibly emotional and ecstatic moment for all of us.
RK Correspondent:What were the key factors that led to India winning the T20 World Cup after 17 years?
JatinSapru: Number one, clarity. They were very clear with the team that they wanted. So, with the selectors, the coach, the captain, just when they announced the squad, you could tell that they were very clear about the plans they had. Rohit Sharma wanted four spinners, which told you that he’s probably got a plan A and a plan B, and that’s what we saw. We saw plan A in New York with pacers. Then we saw an extra spinner coming into play in the West Indies. There was batting depth till number eight, and there were six proper wicket-taking options. I don’t think India has had all their first-choice players fully fit and available for a lot of tournaments. This time, we had them fully available, and the team management beautifully gave everyone a role. Some people, like ViratKohli, got a new role at such a mature age, and everyone bought into the theory. They all played for one common goal, one common mission, and the team, I think, was one of the most balanced and most complete Indian T20 teams ever.
RK: Emotions were high when India lifted the World Cup, but at the same time, a shocking statement of retirement came from ViratKohli, Rohit Sharma, and RavindraJadeja. Although it was not good for all of the fans, how do you feel about their retirement from T20 cricket?
JatinSapru: See, a fan will never be happy when your favourite players retire. But you know that day is going to come at some point and the only thing you can wish for is that the greats of the game get a great goodbye.Something that is fitting, something that’s memorable instead of something that is sad. So, it would have been incomplete in many ways had they quit later without winning the World Cup. It feels very complete that the mission they had set, they’ve achieved it and they’re going to go out on a high. So, they obviously, all three of them deserve it.Rohit has been playing all the way since 2007. This is his ninth World Cup. ViratKohli has been a legend of the game like Rohit for the last 10 years. But they’ve not won a World Cup together. RavindraJadeja has been part of the team for so long for him to get a World Cup medal and also, it tells you that they acknowledge the fact that we’ve got players who are ready to take this forward. So i think if they wanted to take the decision, there couldn’t have been a better finish to what has been a great journey.
RK: What impact do you think their retirement will have on the team and Indian cricket in general, sir?
JatinSapru: You know, Indian cricket is so strong, it keeps moving. When the great Sachin Tendulkar retired, people probably had the same question. But Virat and Rohit were ready in the making. The same question would have happened when the great Sunil Gavaskar and KapilDev retired. Rahul Dravid retired. Ganguly retired. VVS retired. Indian cricket is so strong that it takes time. But there are players who, in a matter of 2, 3, 4 years, rise to the occasion. So, the impact… I mean, Rohit Sharma leaves a beautiful blueprint of how they could approach this format. Let’s not forget that they’re still going to be part of Test matches and One Day cricket. So, they’ve left a wonderful blueprint on how India could play T20 cricket, which is selfless, which is attacking. But at the same time, it’s sensible. It’s not just attacking without any sense involved. So, they’ve left a beautiful blueprint, which is part of his legacy. ViratKohli has left a great lesson that you could become as big a player. But if the team wants you to do something differently, you have to abide by it. You have to completely commit to it, no matter how great a player you are. And the fact that he just kept reinventing himself till this age after becoming a great of the game. So, they’ve left lessons and that is what I think will carry on.
RK: How do you think the Indian team will adapt to this strategy and team composition post these retirements?
JatinSapru: You know, like I said, there are players who are ready. YashaswiJaiswal was part of the squad.He looks ready for the big stage. He’s already shown that in Test matches. RuturajGaikwad, Shubman Gill are two players who are waiting for that role. So, we already have a very solid top three. The others will continue to play. There are again some very good all-rounders. Akshar Patel is going to play for a while. KuldeepYadav, YuzvendraChahal, our fast bowlers are young. Arshdeep, JaspreetBumrah, HardikPandya.They still have a lot of cricket left. MohdSiraj has a lot of cricket left. And we’ll see the likes of Rinku Singh, the likes of Nitish Reddy. I mean, Indian cricket, you look left, right, north, south. There is talent that’s just waiting for an opportunity. So, I think it’s also good that before the next T20 World Cup, a new team will find time to shape itself, to play together as a team. And I think India will be favourites to lift the trophy in the next T20 World Cup as well.
RK: Would you like to share any inspiring story or moment from the World Cup that you witnessed?
JatinSapru: I think my two most inspiring stories. Three, in fact. One is JaspreetBumrah. We missed Jaspreet Bumrah in 2022. He had a surgery. And just look after the surgery, how fit he is. He is a national treasure. He is like a fixed deposit that just keeps giving whenever the times are tough for the family. HardikPandya, who went through a horrible, painful six months.
He was booed at every ground.It felt that it had become personal. He was targeted. But he put his head down. He did not respond. He worked even harder. Came back fitter, stronger and just delivered what a champion cricketer can. So, how he channelised all the negativity and turned it into his inspiration even more and delivered for the country when it mattered the most. Rishabh Pant, 16 months back, we did not know if Rishabh Pant will play cricket again and this is something Rishabh Pant had told his doctor tell me what’s the timeline for my recovery and just purely because there are World Cups coming, I will get fitter even before than what the doctors think. For him to come back, play a World Cup, win it. I think there are some great life lessons everywhere.
RK: How do you think this win has impacted the perception of Indian cricket globally?
JatinSapru: I think people who understand cricket around the world know that India has been amongst the top two teams in almost all formats for a few years. But if people had started doubting that the pressure that India carries into a World Cup and the amount of pressure that India carries into a World Cup to win, I don’t think any other team carries that pressure and that pressure is not easy to handle even for the best players. Because obviously, there is a fear of failure that will come in somewhere and when you lose again and again, you just are waiting for this moment. So, if at all, it just sent out a message that Indian cricket is flourishing. It’s still the best team and they can handle pressure and with big moments when it matters the most.
RK: What message would you like to convey to the millions of fans who supported the team throughout the World Cup, sir?
JatinSapru: Have faith in your players. Have faith that they all play for the country with the right intention. They work very hard to deliver results on the field but the reality of sport is someday it will come off. Someday the result will not go in your favor. It is amazing to see the support when the team has won. But when things are not good, at that time, don’t make it personal. No player ever wants to not perform well. But that’s the reality of sports. You have more bad days than good. So, in tough times, don’t make it personal. Support the team as much in hard times as well.
