Murali Kartik Talks About Being Under The Shadows In His Brief International Career
Published - 24 May 2021, 06:24 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 03:26 PM
Former Indian left-arm spinner Murali Kartik could not achieve the success he wanted to in the international arena. Murali Kartik plied his trade in eight Tests, 37 ODIs, and a solitary T20I from 2000 to 2007. Kartik, who now works as a commentator, has spoken about playing under the shadows of greats like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
One of the genuine things that Murali Kartik had to deal with was playing in the era of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. The 44-year old could not get enough opportunities as Kumble and Harbhajan delivered compelling performances across formats to keep India’s spin-bowling unit complete. Yet, Kartik’s bowling averages were a mediocre 43.57 in ODIs and 34.17 in Tests.
Murali Kartik underlined that, unlike most people, he hardly had the confidence in him that he was good since he started as a seamer and then bowled darts, hardly having the ability to turn. The 44-year old revealed that he learnt the art of bowling left-arm spin after training under the likes of Bishen Singh Bedi and Maninder Singh and bowling alongside Rahul Sanghvi in the nets. Thus, Kartik said he always had the inferiority complex within him at all levels and net practice.
“You always feel that, you know, you have the confidence that ‘I am good’ which I have always seen with you. But for me, it was the opposite. Because I started off as a seamer. And I used to bowl darts. I hardly had the ability to turn. Only after learning from Bishen Singh Bedi and Maninder Singh and bowling alongside Rahul Sanghvi in the nets improved my bowling. Until then, I didn’t know how to bowl, especially left-arm spin. So I always had that inferiority complex every time I saw a spinner. Be it Ranji Trophy nets, U19 nets, or wherever it is. I always had this inferiority complex and felt that I was useless and not good enough compared to others,” Kartik told R<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->c<!---->h<!---->a<!---->n<!---->d<!---->r<!---->a<!---->n<!----> <!---->A<!---->s<!---->h<!---->w<!---->i<!---->n duirng DRS with Aish.
I realise I wouldn’t have been half the cricketer I was if I hadn’t been aggressive: Murali Kartik
Murali Kartik also opined that he believed in showing aggressiveness on the field, be it sledging or targetting the opponents as it worked for him. The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer reveals it did affect me as people viewed players negatively who were outspoken, while inferiority complex was one more factor that played a part.
“Sometimes when I reflect upon my career, I realise I wouldn’t have been half the cricketer I was if I hadn’t been aggressive on the field. I was always aggressive on the field be it sledging or targeting opponents. I have always been this player where I have played. It did affect me. Because in this world if you are slightly outspoken or when you say something, they tag your or project you that way. So, I feel possibly that affected me. Because in my life, as you said about shadows. So yeah, possibly yes. Apart from the fact that my inferiority complex added a bit to that,” he added.
