e has theunenviable job of keeping wickets in the Indian cricket team. Criticised for hisslow batting and an attitude problem,isnevertheless one of the better wicket keepers to serve India in recent times.But many people think that he has had to achieve his best against considerableodds. So has he been sometimes unlucky or has he sometimes been picked upon?Nayan Mongia talks about his cricket and the controversies which seem to haunthim.
Yes after the Partition my grandfather came to Baroda straightaway. My fatheronce he finished his studies used to work in a surgical business. He started hisown business in the early 60''s. It is a business family. Both from my father andmy mother''s side.
.
Yes. I used to play with plastic or rubberballs
Yes. I still remember that. That was unfortunate. I hit the ball and broke aperson''s nose. He had to be taken to the hospital. After that I was verycareful. We used to play in a lane and everybody ran off after the incident. Iwas the one who took him to a neigbour''s house and put some ice on hisnose.!
(Smiles) Not really. I used to come from school, whistle for my friends and weused to then play cricket with a tennis or a rubberball.
There used to be these summer camps where Siddiqui Gaekwad, Anshuman''s fatherwas appointed as official coach. My parents put me there so that I would quitplaying in the lane near my house. It used to happen only during the summerholidays. Then Baroda started a year long camp for which I wasselected.
No.I was selected for the Under-12 side as a fast bowler. But once our wicketkeeperdid not come up and I startedkeeping.
Yes that is true. And my coach saw me and said why don''t you go for keepingsince you have natural reflexes. I then started keeping and began enjoyingit.
(Smiles) Probably I would have been an all-rounder that the Indian teamneeded!
Yes they did. My mother felt that in any case I should finish my studies andjoin my father in business. She felt that there was no point in playing cricket.But my father seeing my progress said that let him go on as he has a brightfuture.
Yes. When I went to Australia in the Under-19 side, I was in the 10th standard.I arrived back just before the examinations. I said such and such is the case.In certain questions the teacher did helpme.
Yes that was 1991 and my first year of first class cricket. After the Under-19experience it was a big step. I always felt that 20-21 is the right time forplaying the Ranji Trophy as you have enough time to mature and play for India.Luckily for me I got the right break at the right time. The Indian team at thattime was leaving for England and they were looking for a second wicketkeeper. Wewere at that time playing the semifinal against Delhi. There was no way we weregoing to win the match because of the first innings deficit. Mr AnshumanGaekwad, my captain, said why don''t you go all out. All the selectors weresitting and I got a 101 not out against all top bowlers- Maninder, Ajay Sharma,Manoj Prabhakar and Atul Wassan. I was finally picked up as the second wicketkeeper for England''s tour of1991.
Notreally. I was very close to playing in the last Test match. And I did well inall the nine county games. It was a learning process for me. I met Allan Knotand Bishen Bedi helped me a lot in that tour. He introduced me to Knot andTaylor. I met all the legendary wicketkeepers.
Yes I scored well in all the matches. I kept well too and it was a greatlearning experience as the ball wobbles a lot in England. It was important forme to learn the finer points of keepingwickets.
They said after that tour that you can''t have two wicketkeepers from the samestate, which I do not agree with. If you can have two fast bowlers or batsmenfrom the same state why not two wicketkeepers if they are good? I was dropped onthe basis of that. There was an opinion going on at that time that maybe Ishould change my state to have a chance to get selected. But I never wanted tochange my state and stuck to Baroda. I played those three years for Baroda andperformed well.
Yes in early 1993 my parents felt that way. Even after hitting four 100''s in arow in the Ranji Trophy, I was not picked for the West Zone side. I thought if Ican''t get in to the West Zone side after hitting three hundreds then there is noway I am going to make to India. The India team was going to Australia thatyear. I was just about to give it all up and my mother felt that I should getback to business.
Ispoke to Anshuman Gaekwad. He said I had age on my side . It is just a matter oftime. I should carry on. Luckily for me I was picked up for the Irani Trophyside that year. And I got a 100 and 10 victims in that game.
Yeah, both of them helped me a lot in mycareer.
Yes. It was difficult. Because I was picked up for all the trial matches. InIndia you just get that one chance. If you do well in the first match you are ahero. If you don''t then it becomes very difficult to get another chance becausethe competition is so much. As you said luckily I got a 100 and 10 catches.Earlier in the Duleep Trophy match I did not get a chance because all the topplayers were available. Again I did not get to play for West Zone for threematches. Luckily Kiran More was not fit for the last match and I was picked. AndI got a 80 and fourvictims.
I think both. You have to have luck. 50% is luck and the rest is up toyou.
Absolutely.
Probably. But it was also a blessing in disguise as in those 3 years Ilearnt a lot of things.
That was the main thing I learnt in those 3 years. Don''t give it up. Keepworking hard. One day the chance will come.
Iwas very nervous because I was replacing someone who was the best wicketkeeperat that time. To live upto the expectation I had to be better than him. That wasthere at the back of my mind - that''s the only chance you would get and if youdon''t do well in a couple of matches, you won''t get in again. Luckily luckfavoured me.
Yeah, batted well also. Made a quick40.
Yeah, I never thought I would play so long for India. My parents probablywanted to see me on TV just once. That was their real dream. But at that timethe Doordarshan reception was not good and you could not seewell.
Exactly not once but perhaps manytimes!
Well, before that Test match the selectors told me that I was to open theinnings. There was only one Test and they wanted to play 5 bowlers. So thatcombination was fitting and they told me a few days in advance. So I wasmentally and physically ready for that. One of the reporters on the eve of theTest match told me I was going to get a 100. I said if that happens I will giveyou a wristwatch.
Yeah, I gave it to him after the Testmatch.
Yes, specially when you are playing in subcontinent because of weathercondition. You are on the stumps for over 70 overs. It means a lot ofconcentration. If you are standing back to a paceman, it is better. But standingupto a spinner, it is difficult in the sub continent.
Yes, it was just a goof up. And I think it was the worst thing that happened inmy career. I am suffering till today forthat.
No, not really. Everything just got messedup.
Yes.
Ididn''t really dive. It was a difficult catch off Kumble''s bowling. The balljumped chest high and it was a crucial catch leading to the turning point in thegame. You can say that we won the game because of thatcatch.
I was really involved in the game especially as Pakistan was playing. Youforget all injuries when playing against Pakistan. You are so involved. I don''tknow how I took it. Call it luck orwhatever.
Yeah, I try to judge my movement. I believe a lot in movement. Diving is whenyou don''t judge the ball properly. If you have the right movement you don''t haveto dive. It looks much neat and cleaner with movementalone.
Yes,that was the first time that Tendulkar started opening as Sidhu had a stiffback. And in that match I took 5 victims but it was overshadowed by Tendulkar''sbrilliantinnings.
Yes, I was very surprised as I hadn''t realised that I had 5 victims. Iwas so involved in the game. I still have that ball autographed by thebowlers.
Yes, myself and the Windies keeper Ridley Jacobs are the only two keeperswho have thrice got 5 victims in a one dayer. I am really proud ofit.
Yes it is true. It is said that since you have gloves you have to takeeverything that comes your way. I don''t feel that it is right. It is aspecialised job. Really special in thesub-continent.
Abroad they give a lot of importance to the keeper. The keeper can tellthe bowlers what to do and what not to from the back. Cricket is batting andbowling. They do not say keeping as well. We have to change thatconcept.
I think we are changing. We have had great keepers- F. Engineer, Kirmani. And somanyothers.
Iwas not dropped after the World Cup. I was injured in the tournament. I had twofractures. It took hell of a long time torecover.
Yes. I was injured and myself opted out because I was not fully fit forthe Nairobiseries.
Well, I was told by the secretary of BCCI to go to Australia as thekeeper was injured. And after 20 days they told me to come back as he was fullyfit. I don''t know what wentwrong.
You have to take it in your stride. It is part oflife.
Yes you feel but you have your family to back you. I take it in mystride. I have a long way togo.
No, they do appreciate itnow.
No, I don''t think I have any problems with Sachin, Sourav or with anyother member of the team at all.
Nobody is secure in the team. You have to perform all the time. ProbablyI am not performing to their desired level. I just have to perform betternow.
Well, I was in office and Tanu and her parents came to see me in Baroda.My parents had it all arranged. It was an arrangedmarriage.
She didn''t know anything about cricket or what Mongia is. She doesn''tdiscuss any cricket with me and that isrelaxing.
As long as I am enjoying and performing, I will keepgoing.
India v Sri Lanka at Lucknow, 1st Test, 1993/94
Indiav South Africa at Bangalore, 2nd Test, 1999/00
India v Sri Lanka at Rajkot, 1st ODI, 1993/94
Indiav Pakistan at Dhaka, Asia Cup,1999/00
