00:00This is Kerala's Muhammad Azharuddin.
00:04He has the namesake of former Indian batter and captain and the way he has been playing,
00:10the way he has performed for Kerala, he is certain to reach higher heights.
00:17Welcome Azharuddin to One India Mike Hill.
00:21This is Souradeep.
00:22So we will be discussing a lot of things today.
00:25First of all, how has it been for you for the last couple of months with the Kerala
00:29Cricket League?
00:30You are part of the team and the way you played, you were the fourth highest run score in the
00:35tournament as well.
00:36How was the experience?
00:37First time, Kerala Cricket League, how was your experience?
00:40Yeah, as you said, it was our first season of KCL.
00:45It was amazing to be frank, we never expected in such ways, but the quality of the cricket
00:53which we played and the quality of the tournament was amazing.
00:57After IPL, we haven't experienced such an amazing platform.
01:02So it was very good.
01:03Azhar, you have been part of Kerala, you are from Kasargod, you helped from Kasargod and
01:09we have seen from Kerala, not many have played for India.
01:14We have seen T.N.U.
01:15Yohanan playing for India, Sreesanth, Sanju Samson is there also, Basanthampi has been
01:20in the Indian national camp.
01:21But now the way we are seeing, lot of players from Kerala are playing in the IPL, they are
01:26performing well with the likes of Sachin Devi, Vishu, Vinod, in fact Basanthampi and
01:31others are there as well.
01:33You have been part of Royal Challenges Bangalore in the past as well.
01:38How do you see the Kerala cricket going forward in the last few years?
01:46Since 2025, I am playing for the senior team, Renji team.
01:51So Kerala cricket has changed a lot.
01:54The quality of the players and the quality of the cricket which we are playing, it has
02:00changed a lot.
02:01And it wasn't that competitive when I started playing for the Renji team, it wasn't that
02:06competitive.
02:07But the last three years especially, if you ask me, after the COVID, that competition
02:16and the mindset of the players has been changed a lot.
02:21So from now onwards, playing IPL, playing India team, I can see that lot of players
02:28from Kerala, in future definitely they are going to be in that IPL and India frame for
02:34sure because mindset has been changed a lot and the game has been changed a lot, game
02:39awareness has been changed a lot.
02:41So it wasn't like that in Kerala, to be frank.
02:44But after the COVID and all, I can see a lot of changes and definitely in future, definitely
02:50there will be a lot of India players, IPL players from Kerala for sure.
02:55And how has been the impact of Sanju Samson?
02:57You have seen him closely with the Kerala team as well.
03:00How has it been?
03:01What have you learnt from him?
03:03Yes, Sanju is very close.
03:05For me, Sanju is very close.
03:08Since under-19 we are playing together, so it's been more than 10 years.
03:12So I know him very closely and he knows me very closely as well.
03:18Yes, to be frank, if you are asking what is Kerala cricket, if you are asking, definitely
03:24Sreesanth, Sanju Bhai and Tenu Chetan, they are the frame of Kerala cricket, definitely
03:29yes.
03:30And he is influencing a lot, not only for me, like all the Kerala cricketers.
03:36We are still struggling to get into that IPL frame or India-A frame and all.
03:43But still, easily he is captaining one franchise like Rajasthan Royals.
03:48So that is something else.
03:51So he is directly and indirectly influencing a lot, like me, like other cricketers.
04:00Azhar, coming back to your performance, you have been a promising batter for Kerala.
04:05But we haven't seen you breaking into that and you have played well, but you haven't
04:11been consistent enough, if I can say that.
04:14What is the reason behind that and how are you working on that on your personal level
04:18to improve in this coming season?
04:20Yes, I agree with that, I wasn't that consistent.
04:25Maybe because of the way I am playing my cricket, I used to take a lot of risks and I used to
04:33play like that.
04:34So of course, there are some risks.
04:36So I think last two years, it has changed a lot and I have really worked on my batting.
04:45I just wanted to take that first few hours to get settled and all.
04:51So I am really working on it.
04:55My basic target in batting is like I just wanted to be more consistent.
05:00So it is very easy to say to be consistent, but it is very difficult to be consistent.
05:06So I am sure if I am working on certain areas, definitely I can be more consistent and it
05:14will definitely be effective as well.
05:16So last two years, I have been working on my batting, especially few areas I know where
05:21I wanted to work and I have worked on it.
05:24So it shows a bit consistent nowadays, especially the last one and a half years.
05:31Let me go back to a bit early days of your cricket, you were born in Kasarpur, northern
05:35part of Kerala.
05:36I think the hub of Kerala is in Cochin and Trivandrum.
05:40So how did it start for you?
05:42How did you get introduced to cricket?
05:44How did you fell in love with cricket?
05:46Yes, I am coming from a district called Kasarpur.
05:50It is a 14th district of Kerala, Karnataka border close to Mangalore.
05:56So the place is full of people who are very passionate about cricket.
06:04They might haven't played proper cricket, professional cricket, but they love cricket
06:11like tennis ball cricket, underarm cricket and all.
06:13So I am coming from such place.
06:16Of course, yes, just because of that, I got that influence and I got such a good family.
06:21I got seven elder brothers, all of them have played cricket and now three of them have
06:26been like part of Kasarpur district cricket team as well.
06:31So by family ways, I got that, this thing would call, I got that route and from district
06:37wise also I got that route and I just love to play cricket whenever I do well, whenever
06:44I get the opportunity.
06:45I always thank Kasarpur people and my family because I am very emotionally attached with
06:50that place.
06:51That's why I have chosen my J.C. number is like 14.
06:54I have just...
06:55Because of the district number?
06:56Yeah.
06:57Can you tell me what was the exact moment?
06:59Because cricket is played by billions in India, but only a few make it even into the state
07:04team because that's what you have achieved is a dream for many.
07:09What made you, what was the exact moment when you decided, okay, no, because Indian parents,
07:14they always indulge their kids to, okay, you have to study, you have to be doctor or engineer
07:19or something like that.
07:20But when did you decide that, yeah, this is my thing, I want to stick with that.
07:26And what was the support that you got from your family?
07:28You have already said you got a lot of support, but what was, when was you that decided that
07:34this was going to be my profession?
07:36Yes.
07:37To be frank, me and my friends were playing for fun in like, in Malayalam we call like
07:43Kandathil Kalikya and all.
07:45So we were, we were playing in such way.
07:48So to be frank, in 2008, KCA has started like on Cash Kerala Cricket Academies, which means
07:56Cash means Cricket Academies and Sports Hostel.
07:58So they took the initiative on 2008 and I was, I was part of that academy.
08:07So since then, things have changed, we were getting morning and evening practice session.
08:12So after that, after getting into that Cash Kerala Academy, things have changed a lot.
08:17I was getting morning and evening practice session.
08:20So after two years, 9th and 10th of my, I mean, when I was studying in on 9th standard
08:27and 10th standard, after that I have realized that yes, I got something, especially in cricket
08:32I have to do well, for that I really have to work a lot.
08:35So then after 10th, I have realized that this is my profession, I have to be good at what
08:41I am doing.
08:42Then I have played for Kerala under 19 when I was studying on 11th standard, then things
08:47has changed a lot.
08:48You started shaping up with that.
08:50Being part of Royal Chancellor's Bangalore, Virat Kohli's team, some say the most supported
08:54team in the Indian Premier League, how was the experience, what did you learn?
08:59It was really good.
09:00It was, it was like out of my, this thing, completely out of my this thing, I can't say
09:07how it was, because sharing a dressing room with Virat by Maxwell, AB and all, that was
09:14amazing.
09:15And I have learned a lot, even though I didn't play a single match, but still the experience
09:19was amazing.
09:20And as IPL mega auction is coming and all the things, how are you shaping up yourself
09:27for the things?
09:28Are you thinking about IPL or something like that?
09:31Yes.
09:32At the start of the season, you are thinking?
09:33Yes.
09:34Yes.
09:35Of course.
09:36Yes.
09:37We wanted to play.
09:38I want to play IPL.
09:39I want to play.
09:40I want to be, I want to be a part of India team.
09:41Yes.
09:42Of course.
09:43Yes.
09:44And for me, it's like outcome.
09:45If I'm really looking at it, I don't think it is going to work out.
09:50So I'm just being, I'm just keeping things very simple.
09:53I'm just looking at the process.
09:55It's a long journey.
09:56Like we have to play Ranji Trophy before the Mussaka League and all.
10:01So now is the only thing I have.
10:04So I'm just enjoying what I have right now.
10:06You have had a new coach in Amai Kurashia sir.
10:08I think this is the second day of the camp.
10:10How has it been with him?
10:11Yeah, it's good.
10:12You know, Amai Kurashia, he was a part of India team.
10:18So of course, there is something in it, right?
10:23Playing for India is not an easy thing.
10:25So of course, it's a good move from Kerala cricket and just two days I've been with him.
10:33Let's see how things go.
10:35In terms of Ranji cricket, if I say, because the format has changed of Ranji Trophy and
10:40we have seen Kerala performing well in the tournaments.
10:44But somewhere they lack, again, in the final stages or in the semi-finals or in the knockouts,
10:50Kerala lacks something.
10:52Are there have been talks within the team to change the mindset, mentality so that you
10:57can perform well in the knockout stages and further route?
11:00Yes, of course.
11:03It's been like few years, as I said, especially that after COVID, we were discussing why we
11:09are not winning Ranji Trophy.
11:11And we as a team, not as an individual, we as a team, we are really working on it.
11:16And as you said, when it comes to knockout matches, especially knockout matches, either
11:21Russagulli, Vijayazhara or Ranji, when it comes to knockout matches, there was something,
11:29there is some concern, especially for knockout matches.
11:31So we as a team, we talked a lot and we are really on it.
11:37And definitely the cup is not that far.
11:40I really wish you all the best, Azhar.
11:44Just coming into the final part of our interview, what are the things that you like to do apart
11:48from cricket?
11:49What did you like to switch off in cricket?
11:51What are the things you like?
11:53Nothing much.
11:54I just, I just spend a lot of time with my friends.
11:56You like to watch Malayalam movies?
11:58Yeah, of course.
11:59Who is your favorite actor, Azhar?
12:00Fahad Fazil.
12:01Fahad Fazil.
12:02Have you watched Kumbhalangi Nights?
12:03Of course.
12:04Sameek.
12:05Aavesham.
12:07Aavesham.
12:08That's a different, it's a different actor.
12:12And I love to drive.
12:14You love to drive.
12:15You love to, you know, you have your car and you go out sometimes, you have free time.
12:20So really wish you all the best, Azhar, for the new season.
12:22I really hope that you and along with all the Kerala players, you do well.
12:27Best of luck for your future endeavors and best of luck for you.
12:30I hope that one day you will be part of the Indian team and I hope that IPL is just around
12:35the corner for you.
12:37Thank you so much.
12:38Thank you very much.
12:39Don't miss out.
12:40Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.
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