Ravichandran Ashwin, Brendon McCullum’s wickets my favourites in IPL: Krishnappa Gowtham

Krishnappa Gowtham’s contributions for Rajasthan Royals have been stellar in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2018). Against Mumbai Indians, he smashed 33 off 11 balls to take Rajasthan Royals over the line while against Kings XI Punjab, he got the big wicket of Chris Gayle to help the Royals stay alive in the race for the play-offs. (IPL 2018 points table)

Ahead of the clash against Chennai Super Kings, the 29-year-old Karnataka offspinner opened up about the role his parents played in his success, his journey and his favorite IPL moments in an exclusive chat. (RR vs CSK highlights)

Excerpts

What has been your favorite IPL 2018 moment so far?

Getting Brendon McCullum’s wicket at the Chinnaswamy stadium. Three reasons why it is my favorite. One, it was McCullum and second, it was in Bangalore.

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Three, it was in a winning cause. In Jaipur, the wicket of R Ashwin against Kings XI Punjab was my favorite. It is an off spinner’s delight to get a fellow offspinner (laughs).

How do you look back at 2016, the year which made Krishnappa Gowtham?

I was happy to have made a comeback to the Karnataka set-up. Everyone knows how difficult it is to come back to the Karnataka set-up. Once you go out of the side and then you make a comeback, it is a big thing. I was fortunate to get that opportunity.

Your father is a kabaddi player. What were the sporting qualities he instilled in you?

Kabaddi is a tough game. It is physical and mental.

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The physical aspect is more important. He (Krishnappa) pushed me to go out there and do what I like. He has never stopped me from doing what I wanted.

Yet, you credit your mother for your success in cricket?

She was the main reason why I started playing cricket. My dad did not know that I was part of the school team and my mother used to send me for cricket coaching classes without my dad’s knowledge.

Why is offspin now taking a backseat to legspin in the last couple of seasons?

I would look at it differently. I am saying spinners are doing well. It is not offspin, legspin, Chinaman or left-arm orthodox. We stand in a place where every spinner is doing well in their own way.

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Let us not forget about the exploits of Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin. Their economy rate and ability to take wickets is what helped them get into the Indian team

What keeps you motivated in order to get success while playing for a team?

I did not want to have this regret when I get picked that, ‘ I could have tried harder’. As professional cricketers, you have to motivate yourself. If you really want to do well, you have to sacrifice a lot of things.