Even at the age of 46, Pravin Tambe is not letting the thought of hanging his boots slip into his adamant mind. Kicking off his season by helping his team DY Patil Sporting Association lifting the Police Shield Trophy on Sunday, the veteran leg-spinner is staying fit to grab any opportunity that comes for him.
His face covered with zinc whenever he takes the pitch and grey hair dominating his receding hairline, Tambe said, “I bowled 40 overs in two days, I am ready to play any format.”
A surplus number of cricketers have disappeared into the oblivion, as they could not get the break that they wanted. Tambe broke this typecast when he debuted for Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals in 2013 followed by his debut in the Mumbai Ranji team. He was 41 then, twice the age of few of his teammates but he flourished.
“I am doing well that means that I am fit. If they want me to play for Mumbai in any format I will offer my services,” he said.
He represented the Mumbai outfit in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2016/17 season managing to get five wickets in six outings. It will be no surprise to see him again for the team if he keeps playing like this. He reveals that he has been preparing for the coming one-day and T20 tournaments. “I have been practicing for the limited overs fixtures matches but my calibre is not just limited to T20 or One-dayers,” said a confident Tambe
Rajasthan Royals will return this season as the ban will be lifted. The veteran still has an emotional connect with the team that handed him a debut but is willing to play for any team. “Whatever chance I got in cricket, was because through RR. I am thankful to them and if it is my destiny to play in the league, I will play for any team that chooses me,” he said.
With the kind of experience that he has in his topsy-turvy career, his motivation and advice are key for his teammates. Tambe paired up with left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah as the pair combined to take 11 wickets two innings of the final against Payyade Club.
After bowling around 40 overs in two days, Tambe hit the gym the next morning following his strict regime. With his self-belief, he could very well pass any fitness test coming his way. “My reflexes while fielding are as good as anyone else’s. I can field at any position, not just fine leg and third man,”
he said.
For a 46-year old, calling his daily routine “hectic” would be an underestimation. “My routine is the same every day. I get up, I go to the academy and I practice in the nets. After that, I go to the gym at 11 am and I work out until 1 pm. I have my lunch and I am back at the academy,” said Tambe, explaining his training schedule.
He admits that he stopped thinking about chances and breaks after a point of a time in his career and still believes to do so. The spinner likes to take one day at a time. Not giving a thought to retirement, Tambe thinks he has a decent career ahead of him. “My return in the (Ranji) team will be good for Mumbai and myself,” he said.
Brief scores: At Mumbai Police Gymkhana ground: Dr. D.Y. Patil Sports Association 1st innings: 446 for 9 in 90 overs & 2nd innings: 246 all out in 38.3 overs
(Yogesh Takawale 72, Aman Khan 44, Subramanian Doraiswamy 39, Shubham Ranjane 32; Harmeet Singh 4/67, Vishal Dabholkar 3/69, Kalpesh Sawant 2/16).
Payyade Sports Club 1st innings (overnight 344 for 8 in 82 overs) 392 all out in 88.3 overs (Parag Khanapurkar 161(Min.274, Balls-204, 18 x 4, 3 x 6), Praful Waghela 42, Harmeett Singh 32, Rahul Lad 31; Prashant Bhoir 4/86, Pravin Tambe 3/92, Shubham
Ranjane 2/27) & 2nd innings: 247 all out in 36.4 overs (Rahul Lad 66, Parag Khanapurkar 38, Hersh Tank 37, Harmeet Singh 32; Pravin Tambe 4/55, Iqbal Abdullah 4/102).
