Someone has to push me out, says Hirwani

NEW DELHI: At 37, almost every player dreams of leading a quiet life, far away from the rigours of the sporting world. Very few dare to keep chasing a dream even though there’s nothing bright on the horizon. Narendra Hirwani is one such brave soul, living life to live again.
"I love cricket and I can’t imagine doing anything other than bowling," says the leg-spinner, who is currently playing his 20th season with the Madhya Pradesh Ranji team.
Although Hiru Bhai as he is popularly known among friends realises that his cricketing career will be limited to only the domestic circuit, he is in no mood to call it quits. "I’m not going to retire till a really deserving youngster pushes me out of the team," the butcher of over 700 scalps swears while talking to the The Times of India.
Hiru made his sensational international debut — picking 16 wickets — against West Indies in the Madras Test in 1987-88. His career, however, could last only 16 more Tests and was practically over once Anil Kumble established himself as the No. 1 leggie in the country.
But Hiru has no regrets and no hard feelings towards anyone. Rather, he has a philosophical explanation: "If any player looks back at his career, he will always feel that he could have done much better. But that’s the way life goes. I played my part in the Indian team and when Kumble’s turn came, he just flourished."
When asked why he failed at the highest level, despite having all the qualities of a traditional leg-spinner while an unorthodox Kumble became the highest wicket-taker for India with such limited resources, he said: "Leg-spin is an art. You can’t say that Kumble has limited resources. He (Kumble) has really worked hard to reach where he is today.
"Although I do agree that he has a different style of bowling that does’t make him any less a leg-spinner. Kumble has shown that he’s not only a good spinner but is also a very strong person, mentally," he said.
Hiru also admits that he has a good relationship with Kumble and discuss a thing or two about leg-spin whenever they meet. "We’re in regular touch with each other and talk about bowling whenever we get the time. But I’ve never suggested that he should bowl in any other way," he revealed, adding: "My 11-year-old son Mihir is also a leg-spinner and playing for MP in age-group tournaments. He has developed his own style of bowling and I’ve never tried to change his style either. Only once in a while, I tell him like any other father some fine points of spin."
Hiru also agree that he may have more variety as a leggie but playing for India is not just about talent. "It’s all about fitting into the team’s strategy. You have to deliver whatever is expected of you."