00:00Veeru obviously used to have a big kid bag as a batsman.
00:02So I used to keep my head on that kid bag and sleep through.
00:05Oh God, so sweet.
00:06So that was a good experience.
00:08And how does it feel that now you are playing?
00:11Veeru is commenting in our studio.
00:14I haven't heard of it, but I have heard of it.
00:17We are doing the same thing.
00:18Exactly, we are doing the same thing.
00:19We are doing the same thing.
00:23Srinath is now a match referee.
00:24I mean, how does it feel all your partners, friends over the years?
00:28Are you playing now?
00:30Do you send a message?
00:31Like I said, I am a fortunate one that I am playing.
00:35I mean, Zach is playing UV and they are playing IPL.
00:38But like, being a fast bowler and especially now,
00:42people they see more, they say these things more because
00:46I have made my comeback after 4 years and at the age of 37.
00:49Then it becomes more, you know, like something new in Indian cricket maybe.
00:53So, and there are so many people, they have told me that you have become an inspiration.
00:57And I said, see, it's good if I can be inspiration to somebody.
01:00Either it's a fast bowler or any cricketer.
01:02I mean, I am just trying to do whatever best I can do.
01:05But if I can, if somebody looks at me like that way and if it's helping in their cricket,
01:09then I will feel I have done my job.
01:12So, let's say back again from 2003 to that 2011 World Cup, two different captains, two different generations.
01:18For you yourself, you said you had become the senior.
01:21How do you maintain that?
01:22Even if I say, I don't like this word senior, but I have no choice.
01:26When they see my age.
01:28But things would have changed, right?
01:30Mentality under two different, from Ganguly to Dhoni, everything has changed.
01:34So, how did you adjust to that process and what did you notice in terms of,
01:38what had changed that shift in Indian cricket?
01:40I mean, 2011 was different feeling.
01:42Yeah, absolutely. So much fun to see that sort of thing.
01:44But like you said, it's not easy.
01:46Dealing with injuries over the years, mentally, how do you prepare yourself?
01:51What, I believe you took up yoga also.
01:53I mean, how did all these things combine and work?
01:55No, see, I mean, see, everybody is different.
01:56Well, I know I had too many injuries, but I always had that belief,
01:59if you work hard, you can get over those injuries.
02:02But now I know what to do.
02:05Like last three, four, five, six years, I know my body well.
02:08And I have made my plans that what to, I have, every day when I go to the bed,
02:12then I plan my next day that what needs to be done.
02:15I mean, earlier when you were young, you don't even know where you will be next hour.
02:19So, those are the things I mean, especially in a fast bowler's life,
02:22you have to be, you don't have luxury like a batsman, you can say, or a spinner.
02:25And that's just it. I mean, over the years, like things, the rigors that a fast bowler has to go
02:29to.
02:29I mean, in India, there's always pressure because you're looking at results overseas as well.
02:33Now, you've been part of an Indian team that has got results overseas.
02:35Go back to, I mean, something like even the NatWest, the feeling of going through something like that,
02:41the belief in the team, locker rooms, what did you say before you used to step out, you know?
02:46No, I mean, see, I mean, it has been a good journey.
02:49It's been an excellent journey, 16, 17 years.
02:53But when did the first love start, like in cricket club?
02:55I grew up in a joint family, so all the cousins and we all, we were like,
02:59obviously my uncles used to play in college, my father played a bit of cricket.
03:04I mean, they always used to watch, my grandfather used to love watching cricket.
03:07So, but like as all the youngsters, when there's a hockey world cup coming, we all used to play hockey.
03:12When there's a soccer world cup, we all used to play soccer.
03:15So, Agri, if not cricket, would you have gone into hockey, football?
03:18I mean, I, earlier I used to love football.
03:21I remember I was like 7, 8, when first it was 80, 86 world cup, Maradona become very popular.
03:27In 1986, Mexico it was.
03:29So, I was a big fan of Diego Maradona, like for a long time.
03:32I used to watch soccer then.
03:34I used to support Argentina always.
03:35Even till now, whenever there's a world cup, I support Argentina.
03:38You've been waiting for a while.
03:41Just because of him and now Messi.
03:45So, I used to watch soccer a lot.
03:47Still, I don't watch that much TV now, last 4, 5 years.
03:50But yeah, whenever I get chance.
03:52So, slowly, slowly, that's how it started.
03:54I started going to Sonnet club when I was like 15, 16.
03:57And from there onwards, slowly, slowly, it became serious.
03:59Coming up, after the break.
04:01If you were in a sinking boat, who would you save?
04:06Dhoni or soccer?
04:08They have to save me, because I don't know how to swim.
04:10Last piece of pie or cake is left on the table.
04:14Who will you give it?
04:15In the kitchen, where I imagine you spend a lot of time?
04:18Not really.
04:19I know how to make omelette.
04:20Omelette or?
04:22Just omelette.
04:22There's a little bit of stuff.
04:24Let's go.
04:24For you, Chef Hat.
04:26And I'll join you, because I'm also not very good at the kitchen.
04:28I don't know how good this omelette will be.
04:33How did you meet, Naira Ji?
04:35You met in London, is it?
04:36We met in London, yeah, in 2002.
04:39When we were touring there.
04:40Green tea.
04:40Let's have the Naira Ji special.
04:42Yeah, green tea.
04:42Everything is okay.
04:43You are from Delhi, then green tea.
04:44In Delhi, you know, then you have to put all of that.
04:51So, I've heard that you make omelette for me.
04:54Is it all right?
04:56Yes, yes.
04:57I used to make omelette.
04:59He used to make tea.
04:59Used to make?
05:00Do you get enough time to spend with your family?
05:03What do you do when you're together at home?
05:05Are they interested in sports?
05:07Do you see them?
05:07Yeah, now my son is from last couple of months.
05:10But he's also like when I was young.
05:12He just keeps changing his interest.
05:13He likes watching football also a little bit.
05:16Not watching much, but yeah, he goes and plays football.
05:23I personally feel after marriage, not too many things change.
05:28But after kids…
05:28You think you're the first man who said that?
05:29After marriage, not too many things change?
05:31Not too many, but because I knew her for long.
05:33Okay.
05:35But…
05:37After kids, yeah, everything changed.
05:42When they come to you with homework,
05:43when they go to the exams and all,
05:46you have to study.
05:48That is not my department.
05:49That is the mother's department.
05:51My department is to take them to park
05:54and play with them,
05:55take my son for swimming and daughter.
05:57They love pool.
06:05How you won over your wife with your cooking skills?
06:07No, no.
06:08She's a vegetarian.
06:09Oh, so then how did you win her over, Neeraji?
06:12Only she can tell you.
06:16Done?
06:17Done, done, done.
06:28Very good.
06:29This was just a glimpse into, of course,
06:31the home life.
06:32But the fun part,
06:33as to how much he knows not just about himself,
06:35but all the people that matter in his life.
06:37We find that out next.
06:41Okay.
06:42Now, after that was a lot of fun,
06:43after talking about family and all,
06:45let me have a little bit more fun
06:46and put Neeraji on the spot.
06:48Huh?
06:49So, just pop quiz.
06:51If you were in a sinking boat,
06:54who would you save?
06:55Dhoni or Saurav?
06:57They have to save me
06:58because I don't know how to swim.
06:59I can swim.
07:00But you're in a boat.
07:01It's sinking though, no?
07:02It's sinking boat.
07:03Then how I…
07:04You can overturn it
07:04and there's only place for one more person.
07:06Who will it be?
07:07Dada or Dhoni?
07:08It will be me.
07:10This next situation is,
07:12imagine,
07:13it's like a joint family situation.
07:14You grew up in one,
07:15right?
07:15Last piece of pie or cake is left on the table.
07:18Who will you give it to?
07:20Viru or Zach?
07:22Oh.
07:22Both of them.
07:24I mean, no.
07:25Or maybe I'll give…
07:26Actually, you know what?
07:27I won't have it.
07:28I'll give those two
07:29because they both love meat.
07:30I don't like meat that much,
07:32but they both love it.
07:33If it's an English meat,
07:35then obviously Zach will have jada.
07:36And if it's a rasmalahi or gulab,
07:39then Indian meat,
07:39then Viru will have jada.
07:41Very good.
07:42And just like,
07:43the first thing that comes to your mind
07:45when I ask you to choose,
07:46Gary Kirsten,
07:47John Wright.
07:48Different personalities.
07:49I enjoyed my time like,
07:51as a youngster with John Wright.
07:53Very, very hardworking guy.
07:55So does Gary Kirsten.
07:56But Gary Kirsten like,
07:58I would say he was a better man management
08:00kind of a guy.
08:01And John Wright was more like really…
08:03He actually taught us that
08:05that much hard work needed
08:07and that much hard work needed
08:09if you want to be successful
08:10at international cricket.
08:12He is the one guy
08:13who changed Indian cricket in 2000-2001.
08:15And from…
08:16If we used to work that much hard,
08:18we started doing
08:20maybe more than double that time.
08:21So he was the one…
08:23I would definitely say like…
08:27in 2001, 2 and 3 really helped Indian cricket
08:29till 2005.
08:30Anshi, thank you so much.
08:31I just want to ask you,
08:32you're not going to go to social media
08:34on Twitter, right?
08:35You're not going to create your account.
08:36Officially, you can say it.
08:37There's no plan now.
08:39I mean…
08:40I never say never…
08:42Never.
08:43But…
08:46I'm somebody who doesn't even know
08:47how to send a mail.
08:48I'm not a big…
08:49Not only social media,
08:50I don't have any problems
08:51with social media.
08:52But all in all,
08:53I'm not somebody who watches too much TV.
08:55Like I said,
08:56I'm somebody who would rather
08:58spend that time on the pool
08:59or maybe in gym
09:00or relax
09:00and play with my kids.
09:02So this social media
09:03and TV
09:03and all this takes too much of a time.
09:05So my kids are also young.
09:06So I don't have that much.
09:07But maybe in future,
09:08if I do commentary,
09:09so then I have…
09:10People like…
09:11People like VVS Lakshman…
09:12People like VVS Lakshman,
09:14they are like
09:15even much more quieter
09:16and very homely person.
09:18He's on Twitter.
09:19So you never say never.
09:20Maybe I will be one day.
09:21And we will look forward to that.
09:23Thank you so much Ashish for talking us.
09:24Really wishing you all the best.
09:25Thank you guys.
09:26Thank you guys.
