The relief and excitement was palpable, even a day after cricket made a re-entry into cricketer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth's life.
The pacer was serving a life ban imposed by the BCCI for his alleged role in spot-fixing in IPL 2013. On August 20, BCCI Ombudsman and Ethics Officer D.K. Jain reduced his 'life ban' to seven years, thus making him eligible to take the field from September 13, 2020.
"God has been kind. I would like to thank each and every individual across the globe who supported me and prayed for me," said Sreesanth to THE WEEK.
The long-awaited moment came five months after the Supreme Court "set aside" the BCCI life ban and asked the Board to "reconsider" and "revisit" the duration of any fresh ban, preferably within three months.
Though Sreesanth was informed about Jain's decision on August 7, it was made public only on August 20. It was a long wait, albeit a sweet one. Unlike the six-year long wait for this moment. There were two instances in the past when the BCCI could have reconsidered his life ban—first, in 2015, when a Delhi trial court dropped charges against Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila (all three played for Rajasthan Royals then), and second, in 2017, when Kerala High Court ordered the Board to lift Sreesanth's life ban. But the BCCI refused to relent. Even now, Sreesanth has to wait one more year to get back on the field officially.
(File) Sreesanth at the Kochi international airport, a day after he was acquitted of all spot-fixing charges, in 2015 | Josekutty Panackal
But the ever-positive 36-year-old called it a "blessing in disguise".
"I have no time for grudges. I am already 36! In fact, I thank Mr Jain and the BCCI for giving me one year to prepare myself," the pacer said. "I am still clocking 130-140kmph and batting well too. I am going to request for practice matches and I will treat myself like a rookie U-19 bowler trying to improve his cricket. I am going to request for a few practice matches. By September 2020, I hope to be extremely fit and raring to go from my first match."
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With focused training and a bit of luck, Sreesanth believes he would make it to the Kerala team, and, the Indian team as well. Sounds far-fetched at his age? Not at all, he said. "My focus is on Test cricket. I don't just want to take wickets, but also score runs. My batting has improved, so I can be a bowling all-rounder with more training. My performance will speak for me," he said.
So, can we see more sixes off his bat like the one he hit off South Africa's Andre Nel in 2006, and the no-holds-barred celebration after that? "I don't want to stop at one six! I want to make a 100." It was in that Test in Johannesburg that Sreesanth took a sensational 5/40, helping India skittle out the Proteas for 84 runs in the first innings. India won the Test—their first win in whites in South Africa.
Sreesanth cites the examples of Indian tennis star Leander Paes and Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer when people talk about age. "Paes won Grand Slam in his 40s. Federer is still in top form at 38. So, age is not really a matter as long as you are fit and in form," he said.
But, finding a vacancy in the Indian pace unit in Tests, comprising Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma, might sound unrealistic, no? "I always believe in unrealistic goals. Who would have thought I would be part of two World Cup-winning squads (2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup). I am sure I will take my 100th Test wicket (he has 87 now in 27 matches). I want to be there at Lord's when Team India wins the World Test Championship in 2021," Sreesanth said.
"There's luck as well. 7 is my lucky number. I first played for India on October 25 (he made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at Nagpur in 2005), so that 5 plus 2 equal to 7. And now this seven-year wait!"
(File) (From left) Gulshan Grover, director-producer Mahesh Bhatt, actress-producer Pooja Bhatt and Sreesanth (bottom) pose for a picture during a promotional event for the upcoming Hindi film "Cabaret", in Mumbai | AFP
All these years away from cricket did not dampen Sreesanth's spirit. He took part in reality shows, dance competitions and even dabbled in films, for which he beefed up. He had his share of controversies but he soldiered on. "We should stop blame-games and take responsibility of our own lives. You become a much better person when you go through struggles," he said.
" I always believed I will make a comeback. I had people around to support me - my wife, kids, parents, family and friends... I don't want to change anything in my life. I never got bored in life. It's such a beautiful and amazing world. Something I have learnt in these six years. I love to learn every day. That kept me going. "
The ban might have kept Sreesanth out of cricket but his one-time India teammates still keep in touch. "Suresh Raina had messaged me [after the BCCI announcement]. I spoke to Harbhajan Singh," he said. Interestingly, Singh had slapped Sreesanth after an IPL match between between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians in 2008. The Kerala bowler was the second-highest wicket-taker in that inaugural IPL but the incident hogged the headlines. But there was no love lost between the two.
"Viru bhai (Virender Sehwag), Laxman bhai (VVS Laxman), Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir... there are so many others too who were in touch. Kerala players too like Sanju [Samson], Sachin Baby, Tinu Yohannan, and others...," he said.
In fact, former India pacer and Kerala player Yohannan felt that the ban could have been revoked earlier. "The Kerala High Court had ordered lifting of the ban in 2017. It could have been done then. But I am really happy for him. After all he has been through, it's must be such a relief for him," Yohannan told THE WEEK.
Sreesanth, however, doesn't want to live in the past anymore. "Cricket is my life and I love it. God has given me another chance. As long as I breathe, I will never give up. I want to die happy."
