00:00 I was suffering and I was upset and you know it's a do or die for me.
00:05 Antony and Anatoly and the team helped me a lot.
00:08 I have to prove myself for everything and then I have to perform and it was tough.
00:13 The game has changed according to that the competition also changed.
00:17 Expectation is very high.
00:19 India has a better chance to win a World Cup.
00:21 There has to be very big luck.
00:24 96, nobody expected me to win.
00:26 This time the Akos will be South Africa.
00:28 Hello and welcome to One India.
00:30 My name is Avinash and I am joined by the legendary Muthayam Gullidharan.
00:35 The man needs no introduction.
00:36 1400+ international wickets.
00:39 The only man to have 800 test wickets and numerous records.
00:43 He enjoys a great fan following not just in Sri Lanka, but also in India.
00:48 First of all, welcome sir.
00:49 And I would congratulate you on this biopic of yours.
00:53 So, first of all, your thoughts on the entire movie and the star cast.
00:58 Yeah, because it's going to be a great movie.
01:01 Because it is a lot of...
01:04 So you should have shown the trailer.
01:07 Did you see the trailer?
01:08 So did you like it?
01:09 Yes.
01:10 So the trailer is very good and the movie will be better than that.
01:16 That's what my director said because some people have seen and everything.
01:19 So hopefully they will inspire my story because we were in like, you know,
01:25 civil war when my life was there.
01:28 And then so much of struggles and then and through that to achieve 800 was a miracle for me.
01:37 And that's what the story is all about.
01:40 So if you just go through your career, we've seen so many ups and downs.
01:45 There have been unwanted controversies, which you, I mean, you never deliberately did anything.
01:51 But you faced a lot of backlash, especially in Australia in 1992.
01:56 And that didn't stop there.
01:57 You had to consistently prove yourself that your action is genuine and you don't have to,
02:02 you are not checking anything and you're not making a fool of the game.
02:06 So just tell us about how was those going through your life
02:12 and what was going through you and in the entire team?
02:18 Yeah, because at the time, because it was I was suffering and it was upset and,
02:23 you know, it's do or die for me.
02:27 But Arjun and Anantunga and the team helped me a lot and also the whole public without seeing
02:34 I'm a minority and everything, seeing me as a cricketer.
02:37 They backed me like nothing.
02:39 So that's why I could go overcome these problems because then we went to a lot of tests
02:46 and everything, prove myself innocent.
02:48 So there was nothing problem by ICC, then ICC accepted, but it didn't stay for one year.
02:53 It was going for 10 years, 15 years, everyday checking.
02:57 So that is something I have to, not like other cricketers,
03:00 I have to prove myself for everything and then I have to perform to be in the side
03:05 and it was tough than others.
03:08 So we've seen some of great spinners in your generation together.
03:11 There was a good competition in world cricket.
03:15 There was Shane Vaughan, there was Anil Kumble, there was Sakle and Mushtaq, then there was you.
03:19 So if you compare, I mean, we generally don't compare the eras,
03:23 but during your times, the competition was so huge amongst yourselves.
03:29 Do you see the same kind of a competition now in the current generation?
03:33 So game has changed a lot.
03:37 So because those days, Test cricket is the pioneer cricket, now become T20,
03:43 so ask is different, the strategies are different,
03:47 spin, you need to spin the ball and everything, longer format,
03:50 you have better chance and you want to wicket takers.
03:54 So this game has changed. According to that, the competition also changed.
03:59 The players coming like now, it's about all-rounders who can spin the ball little bit
04:04 and then they bat as well. So the expectation is very high.
04:08 So you can't complain anything, but that era, it's all about Test cricket.
04:13 So then you have to ability to take wickets, then you found great spinners going through.
04:19 So you are, and there were a lot in your generation who used to take 100 wickets
04:26 more than against oppositions. You've taken against Australia, India, England, South Africa.
04:33 In the current generation, if I talk about spinners,
04:36 the only two names that cross my mind are Nathan Lann and Ravichandran Ashwin.
04:40 Do you see the spinners doing, as you rightly mentioned about T20 cricket,
04:43 taking over, ruling the roost. Is it going to be a phenomenon in the future that a player…
04:50 Because people want to see 2020 cricket, rather than Test cricket much.
04:56 So the more performance will be concentrated on 2020,
05:01 less cricketers played, so then opportunities are less for the players.
05:05 So as you mentioned about T20, you yourself have played quite a lot of IPL.
05:11 You've been a part of three very successful franchises, CSK, RCB, NSRH.
05:17 So how was the atmosphere in Chennai Super Kings? Because you have a big following there.
05:22 Yes, because I had a great time with Chennai Super Kings. We had a great performance.
05:26 I bowled really well and them also. I was the ISV cricketer most of the times.
05:31 So I enjoyed it. So Chennai was everything for me.
05:35 Then I have to leave because of the auction rules and everything.
05:39 Then Kochi, we couldn't play. Then RCB, I had a great time.
05:43 And then I retired from RCB. Then I as a coach here and also a mentor for Archa,
05:52 so I had a very good time in IPL.
05:56 So this is a World Cup here. India, the way they have performed in the Asia Cup and now against Australia,
06:03 it becomes a pertinent question about what are India's chances making it to the final because it's being held at home.
06:11 It's very difficult to say for me because I'm a best cricketer or best bowler.
06:16 I can't predict what team is going to do that. But India has a better chance because of their home,
06:22 because the public is going to support them, the crowds are going to support them, and not large numbers.
06:29 So that is the advantage they have. And they are also not a bad side. It's a very good side.
06:34 But to win a World Cup, there has to be very big luck and it has to go your side.
06:41 So you can't predict any side because in 1996, nobody expected me to win.
06:46 So I'd like somebody can win. But the favorites I can say because of their current form, India, Australia, England,
06:53 then any other team can win.
06:56 Who according to you could be the dark horse? Because last time we saw...
07:01 I think this time dark horse will be South Africa. They are playing well.
07:06 So in the last couple of months, we've seen, I mean, high scoring games are back and India is generally known for those high scores.
07:13 Plus the dew factor also coming in to play in the evening.
07:17 So is it again going to be a batter's World Cup or is there something for the spinners as well?
07:24 It's very difficult to say. I don't know what weather is going to come, what dew is going to come.
07:29 Until few, at least 10-15 matches played, then you know the situation.
07:34 Now we all can't just assume things. So assuming is very dangerous for us.
07:40 But I have played that game. So we will see the conditions, how it comes.
07:47 Okay. So speaking about your career, your journey, which has been your favorite venue or ground you've come to bowl?
07:58 I enjoyed in Cape Town, Newlands, bowling. But always I enjoyed in Sri Lanka. But outside in Newlands, I liked it.
08:07 Last question, sir. What are your message to the fans for the film and for the Sri Lankan cricket team fans?
08:14 So film, come in big numbers and watch it. You won't be disappointed. So that will be a very good story there.
08:23 So this can inspire all sportsmen and whatever you do in life.
08:28 So I would like them to come and watch this movie. For fans in Sri Lanka, enjoy the World Cup because it's a big event.
08:40 And support your own teams, not only for Sri Lanka, others as well. Support your own teams and enjoy the game and cherish. Someone will win.
08:53 Thank you for your time. So this was great legendary spinner, Muthaiya Murli Dharan.
08:59 And we hope the movie is a success and we keep seeing him around in India as fans love to watch him.
09:06 And the man who's known to spin the ball in any surface is definitely going to rule the movie industry as well with this film. Thank you.
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