Lakshmipathy Balaji | The working class hero calls it a day in first class cricket
Lakshmipathy Balaji, who made a memorable impact in India's tour of Pakistan in 2004, has announced his retirement from first class cricket on Wednesday. The 34-year-old is, however, set to continue as the bowling coach of Tamil Nadu, and will also be in action in the TNPL and the IPL.
“I have to move on, have a young family now. I have given it all during my 16 years as a first class cricketer. I will be playing in the shorter forms of the game in competitions such as the TNPL and IPL,” Balaji told The Hindu on Wednesday, drawing the curtains over a long, often injury-riddled, but mostly industrious cricketing career.
An infectious smile, a snappy bowling action, and an unfaltering belief in his ability—the cornerstones on which Lakshimipathy Balaji's career was built upon. 8 Tests, 30 ODIs, and 5 T20Is do not make for great numbers. He is not close to being considered among the pantheon of greats that India has produced so far. But beyond bare statistics, cricketers often live on in the memories of the fans on a much more unquantifiable element—emotions.
For those who have watched him play in his delightfully uninhibited manner during the historic tour of Pakistan in 2004, he will always remain a joyful link back to one of the most memorable phases in Indian cricket. From dismissing the Pakistani great Inzamam-ul-Haq with an outswinger to hitting Shoaib Akhtar for a six, and breaking his bat in the process—it was series where Balaji stood up and delivered amid infinitely more glistening names on the team sheet.
“It was a late outswinger, Inzamam nicked it and I would never forget that moment. We won the Test and the series, for the first time in Pakistan,” Balaji recalled.
He provided another such memorable moment against Pakistan, next year, in the Mohali Test, where he dismissed Younis Khan with a stunning delivery. “I had come back from an injury and bowled with a remodelled action. I was generating good pace and took out Younis Khan with a mean one,” he remembered with a smile.
But as we look back on his career, it seems to be a case of what could have been. Tormented with injuries, Balaji has had to overcome a lot of hurdles. But he always had one person to look up to in those situations—Anil Kumble.
© TNPL“I would ask myself how Kumble would deal with it. Then I would get my answer,” Balaji said.
The 34-year-old also had Zaheer Khan by his side. “Zak would constantly share his ideas with me, encourage me. He is a fine person,” he added.
John Wright was the coach of the Indian team when Balaji broke into the side, and Balaji also credited the former New Zealand international for his help. “I was very young, just around 20, when I played for India. John really believed in me and made me believe in myself,” Balaji said.
While his foray into international cricket was limited, Balaji has had a memorable domestic career. From marking his debut for Tamil Nadu with an astonishing spell against Colombo Districts Cricket Association XI with figures of 9-5-9-3 to helping the Chennai Super Kings lift the Champions league trophy in his 3rd season of the IPL—Balaji has been ever-present in a domestic circuit which is not the most conducive for fast bowlers.
“It is hard for pacemen in Indian conditions. You got to be attacking, swing and reverse swing, bowl yorkers and use the short ball cleverly,” said Balaji before signing off.
“I want to thank the TNCA and all those cricketers and coaches who guided me.”
He is likely to continue as Tamil Nadu bowling coach in the Ranji Trophy, and we might still see him in action in the next Indian Premier League. However, that endearing smile will always be etched in the memories of those who have followed him, and also those who look to rise above self-imposed limitations. As John Lennon said, he is a working class hero.
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