Kozhikode: Most often celebrity status strikes sportspersons une-xpectedly. Basil Thampi, who was awarded the emerging player in the Indian Premier League 2017, is not different as the Kerala pacer from Peru-mbavoor had an unexpected season full of surprises with Gujarat Lions that culminated in an award that he now admires the most.
“Even after the performances in the IPL, I never thought I would get the award. There were several players who performed brilliantly. May be, I was able to make my presence felt on the field with several high-profile wickets. For that I will always be thankful to my teammates, especially Raina bhai (Suresh Raina) for motivating me,” said Basil.
“The trust put in me by the team is the reason for my success. Even after three wickets-less matches, they continued to give me chances,” he said.
However, the cricketer feels that he should not be carried away by his progress.
“One of the major lessons that I learnt from my IPL debut season is how to react to different situations. There were a lot of star cricketers and I will transform the exposure only for betterment of my career. Several people are dependent on me and I have to make sure I will not be carried away by the success. I still need to improve a lot and I will concentrate on cricket only,” he said.
Describing the entire IPL experience as a dream-come-true feeling, Basil said that his debut wicket of Chris Gayle was an unforgettable moment. “Such wickets gave me the confidence to face anything on the field. Now, I am confident that I will be able to bowl to anyone without any pressure. I think that is the best positive thing that happened to me after the IPL,” revealed Basil.
The cricketer, who loves all the formats, believes he needs to improve his swing without decreasing the pace. “I now ball above 140 km per hour and I need to improve my swing, especially with the new ball. I love to hear I am a yorker specialist. Right now, my career is peaking and by God’s grace, I may be able to continue the streak,” Basil added.
