J Suchith: The respect I get is because of Mumbai Indians

Only in his second season of Indian Premier League (IPL), Jagadeesha Suchith is pretty well known in the Mumbai circles, considering his exploits for the Mumbai Indians in the 2015 edition. The 22-year-old from Karnataka made his IPL debut in 2015, much before he played a first-class game for his state. An all-rounder, Suchith is a handy left-arm orthodox spinner while he can also pack a mean punch with the bat. In a free-wheeling chat with Cricbuzz, the Mysuru-born cricketer speaks about his IPL journey, what it means to be part of the Mumbai Indians camp, the different challenges that come with being an allrounder and reveals a bit of banter with Kieron Pollard.

Describe your IPL journey

To be frank, I didn't think I would get so many opportunities with Mumbai Indians considering the fact that they have been such a wonderful team. When I went to the (MI) camp, I started bowling well from day one. Whoever was playing there - Rohit (Sharma) or (Kieron) Pollard - I was bowling really well to them. I was also hitting the ball well when I got to bat. I was preparing myself well for the IPL. Obviously, you know we have a lot of legends in our dressing room - (Ricky) Ponting, Sachin (Tendulkar) sir, many of them - and they used to talk to me, they spoke to me about what my role would be in Mumbai Indians. That made me comfortable and with each and every practice session, I started getting better and better. Jonty (Rhodes) as well, I started fielding better. The intensity I showed during the practice sessions was pretty good. Once the tournament started - I didn't get to play the first game - and then I played the second game against Kings XI Punjab. From then on I went on to play 13 games (in the first season) for MI and I took 10 wickets.

How helpful has the MI set-up been for you and who has been your biggest help there?

Anil (Kumble) sir used to be with us, he helped me a lot during the course of IPL. Whatever time he spent with the team, I used to talk to him, he used to give me ideas, areas to bowl and how to go about. He has helped me a lot. Rahul Sanghvi, who is also part of the management, he also helped me a lot with my bowling. As always, Robin Singh and Ricky Ponting, used to talk to me about batting. They used to help me with the areas I needed to target when I'm batting. Shane Bond also used to help me with the tactical aspects - the field to keep for particular batsmen, what better I can do with my field placements or the way I think when I'm bowling. On the whole, everyone has contributed their bit and I feel Anil sir and Rahul Sanghvi have helped me a lot.

The Mumbai Indians set-up has a massive support staff. How do you make sure that the various inputs that you receive are used appropriately?

Whatever they used to tell me, I used to implement it in the practice sessions. Those are really valuable points. I used to focus a lot on that and improve on it. I used whatever worked for me in the game and not those that did not work for me. Most of the points that they gave me during the practice sessions worked and I usually implemented it in the game as well. They never used to give too many ideas, only small things which will add value to your game.

How has IPL changed your life?

In terms of fame, I've got a bit (of that). People recognise me and people say 'this is Suchith who plays for Mumbai Indians,' and they take pictures. Having that kind of popularity is good. As far as lifestyle is concerned, it has not changed much but yeah, I bought a car now, I didn't have a car and was able to buy it because of the IPL contract money. Wherever I go, I get this respect probably because of what I have done in cricket or what Mumbai Indians has got me. The respect that I get outside is probably because of Mumbai Indians as of now. I'm pretty glad and happy as long as I am getting it.

As an allrounder, what kind of challenges do you face in T20 cricket?

When it comes to bowling, bowling in the powerplay in the IPL. At Wankhede (stadium) most of the games will be high-scoring and most teams like to play in Wankhede as they will get a lot of runs. Bowling to batsmen like (AB) de Villiers and Virat (Kohli) is also challenging. When it comes to batting, my role is pretty clear - I have to go at a Strike Rate of 150-180. I got limited opportunities (with the bat). One game when I got an opportunity, I did pretty decently. It depends on what situation I go in to bat when it comes to T20. Bowling pretty much remains the same - whenever I bowl I have to be bowling a lot of effective deliveries to stop the batsmen coming after me. As I said, the most important thing is (bowling in) the powerplay and bowling to quality batsmen like ABD or whoever it might be.

As a spinner, how do you cope with the different formats and how does the role change?

Each and every format, the amount of good deliveries you need to bowl keep on increasing. In T20, the margin of error is really less. In One-Dayers, you get a little more space, you have 10 overs (as a bowler) and you can plan. In the four-day format, you need to be very patient for eight or ten overs to get a wicket. It changes according to the formats and it only depends on how you think. You have to be patient in the four-day format, you need to be balanced in the One-Day format - patient as well as going for wickets - and in T20 you need to do things what is required to stop the batsmen. For all three formats, you need to have a lot of clarity of thought.

As an allrounder, what is your practice routine?

I am basically a bowling all-rounder. I bowl for a couple of hours in the nets, and then I bat. After I finish my batting, I spend some time focussing on a few skills with my batting. First I work on my bowling, bowling maybe at a single wicket and strengthening my basics and skills. Later I bowl to the batsmen in the nets, bat after that and then (work on) whatever is left with my batting.

If you were not a cricketer, what route would you have taken?

I guessed you would ask this, it's a difficult question. I don't really know, apart from cricket. Probably I would find a job where I could travel the world. I am really good at talking and convincing people.

If you had to choose one cricketer to bat for your life, who would that be and why?

That would obviously be AB de Villiers. As everyone knows, he has two shots for each delivery bowled and he can hit the ball to each and every corner of the cricket field. If you want to out-smart a batsman of AB de Villiers' calibre, it takes a lot from you. Me, having bowled to him, I experienced it first-hand when he got a hundred against us. I feel AB de Villiers is the man.

Outside cricket, describe J Suchith.

I am a fun-loving guy who hangs out with his friends when he gets free time. I cherish quality time with my family. I stay in Bangalore and my family stays in Mysore so I get very little time to spend with my family. I probably don't go out much and if I go out it will be with my friends or family. Spending quality time with my family and cherishing those memories.

Your funniest moment in the dressing room.

That would be probably after we won the IPL. We won and we got the Cup to our dressing room. We poured all the Coke, Pepsi, whatever there was into the Cup. We were in a huddle or a circle, we were singing songs and everyone had to come in the circle and had to dance for five to ten seconds and take a sip from the IPL Cup. That would be my funniest moment in the dressing room.

What was the funniest thing said to you or the funniest you have said on a cricketing field?

Pollard and me had this conversation before the IPL (2015). I told him whatever happens on the cricket field, I will not be put under pressure, I'll be smiling no matter what happens. There was this particular moment when I dropped Ajinkya Rahane's catch when we were playing against Rajasthan Royals. The next over Pollard came up to me and he said 'I can't see you smiling.' That would be the funniest thing that was said to me on a cricket field.

Which cricket game would you have loved to be part of and why?

That would obviously be the 2011 World Cup final. I was too young for that. The amount of energy that was on the field, the emotions running through the Wankhede stadium and everyone playing it for Sachin sir and for the nation - a long time (since the 1983 victory). Whoever played that game and whoever were at the Wankhede stadium, that (moment) would remain with them for ever and ever. I wish I was part of the 2011 final team. That would be the best feeling for a cricketer in his cricketing career.