14 GOODLIFE THE TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY 23 MAY2018 XXCE #KKR

ROBIN UTHAPPA, , , HEATH STREAK AND VENKYMYSORE OF KKR SHARED IT ALL AT CHATWITH CHAMPIONS,PRESENTED BY THE TELEGRAPH

(L-R) , TheKnights met up with the sporty kids ShivamMaviand of TheNewtown School Shubman Gill at Chat with Champions presented by The Telegraph in association with The It is avery young side and aside that will stay together for Newtown School. years to come. So we are in avery good place right now Pictures: B. Halder and Shuvo — Robin Uthappa Roychaudhury

ROBIN UTHAPPA Unforgettable moments with KKR: First, Ithink, in 2014, the second time we (L-R) VenkyMysore, Satabdi Goswami won, we were in asituation where we had Bhattacharjee, Robin Uthappa, ShivamMavi, to win every game to qualify for the last Shubman Gill, SanjayKumarKhemka and stage of the tournament. And somehow Sunil Agarwal at the event as aunit we came together, really backed each other, supported each other, trusted each other, believed in one another and Theauditorium, packedwith the students of The we ended up doing something so special Newtown School, erupted when the Knights walked that season. We ended up winning the in. “ILOVEyou Shubman,” squealed Suhani tournament and that for me, Ithink, was Kapoor (second fromright). “He is cute, polite, tall the most memorable in KKR. andhandsome! I’dliketotell him thatIamabig fan and would liketomeethim,get his autographand a The evolution of KKR: hug from him,” said the Class VIII student. Ithink it has evolved beautifully. Ihave been here since 2014 and to see the team grow the way it has has been fantastic. Now Ithink we are in astage where SHIVAM MAVI The role of agood foundation: probably the average age of the team is 24 Balancing studies and : Ithink it is very important to have a or 25, you know with all the youngsters It’svery tough. Towards the beginning good base when you are young. So if that we have and all the senior players Iwould get to study only two or three you have been working hard right that we have had. It is avery young side months in ayear. But now Idon’teven from childhood,then going forward and aside that will stay together for have that much time (chuckles). it’seasier for you. But if you haven’t years to come. So we are in avery good been working hard right from the place right now. Ithink credit must be beginning, then it gets tougher later given to the management and the think on. Like my father has made me tank of KKR for being alittle ahead of the SHUBMANGILL work very hard right from the start, curve and to some of the youngsters, and The role of daddy dear: so now it’seasy for me because if Igo make sure that we have aconsistent team down from here then Iwill feel Iam Wherever Iamtoday, for whatever to play for us the next five or six not doing enough. reason, everything is because of my years. Dancing with Shah Rukh Khan: father. Because he was crazy about Balancing studies and cricket: playing cricket and Igot that craze Obviously it felt very good to dance with him. So On having asexy physique: from him. And he used to watch It’snot that Iwould bunk classes, but there was me, (Kamlesh) Nagarkoti, (Andre) Well, Ionly really care about what my cricket alot and Ialso used to watch there was no pressure on me to get Russell and Shah Rukh sir. His song was playing wife (Sheethal Goutham) has to say. with him. So whatver Iamtoday is all good marks. So, it was like you have and he was teaching us the dance steps. The song (Laughs) because of him. to pass… but Idid well. was Chammak challo! XXCE THE TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY 23 MAY2018 GOODLIFE 15 #KKR

THEY ASKED, TEAM KKR ANSWERED!

Shivanjini Parihar(ClassIX) to Heath Streak:What is your advice foraspiring players? Streak: If youwant to playlike these guys or youknowyou want to be an engineer,whatever it is,makesurethat’syourreal dream becausethat’swhy youare going to be good at it. If youhavepassion forsomething, that’show youare going to succeed. What Shivanjini told t2:Ilove the waythe KKR team KKR plays.For me,theyare the best side in the tournament. coachHeath My favourite playerisDinesh Karthik and Iwanttowish Streak (left) and KKR all the best forthe play-offs! CEO at the adda moderated by Jimmy Tangree (inset) Tanish Mehta (Class IX) to Shubman Gill:Whatdoyou tell yourself when youwalk on to the field? The big thing for VENKY MYSORE Shubman: Ithinkitisjust about HEATH STREAK style icon, sir…. (Blushes) being myself, being able to these guys is The “fabulous” journey called The girl magnet: Idon’tknow but express myselfwhenIambatting The Calcutta dealing with experience: KKR: This is what keeps us going, Shubman is again coming up….I and Ijusttellmyself,goout there pressure. At the think all the under-19 boys are and have fun! That’sit. It is nice to be in the kind of atmosphere created for end of the day, targets these days! (Laughs) WhatTanish told t2:KKR is in amuch better form than last Calcutta with all these KKR and the kind of support we get. pressure is a The rule-breaker: year.Myfavourite is RobinUthappa because of his brilliant fans who love The pranksterofthe team: . mental thing. It and his spirit. My only message forKKR is,‘Please win!’ us so much and to be Imust say it is avery well-behaved There are aset of rules only for amongst agreat group is just dealing Andre! (Laughs) with the team. One of my complaints is that of guys. we are too The absolute pressure, being obedient boy: Inside KKR: Ijust quiet! Just go Is there AnirudhaDuttagupta (Class IX) to able to perform have to be the out and do such aboy? (Laughs) Robin Uthappa:Whatisthe best bodyguard of these at that peak the job… but DK ( Dinesh lockerroom advice youhave two young boys… I level, under Ithink Karthik)!Ithink he beengiven? have to be their those pressures Kuldeep is the obedient boy. Robin:When we get to the bodyguard because all and being able to (Yadav) and Chris Lynn would He listens and he does lockerroom, we don’treallyget these lovely girls keep focus on those probably fall in that category. stuff. advice as such... maybe just coming up to them, so skills that you The good boy of the team: Well, The early sleeper: Early sleeper? pointers.Ithinkitismoreabout Ihave to keep them need to at that the way he behaves at the moment, I That has to be me because Ijust really supportingyour mates at that focused. Ihave to keep time — Heath feel Shubman (Gill) is the good boy show my face and Igoaway! point of time.That’swhatwereally want in asuccessful young Mavi bowling at Streak of the team (loud cheer)! ‘Kaise ho The wordthat sums up KKR: team and work environment. WhatAnirudhatold t2:The KKR team is awesome.They a140 and Shubman, I Shubman?’‘Thik hoon,sir’…. The word that comes to my mind is playaswell as theytalk.Itwas wonderfulseeing the have to make sure, is The introvert of the ‘grounded’.Itisavery grounded focused on his batting. players from up close.Iam abig fan. It wasaonce-in-a- team: SunilNarine.I team, it’sfunny everyone has So, that’sit, otherwise Robbie, even though he is lifetime opportunity forme. My favourite playerisAndre had sent him along commented this year, particularly the oldest guy (amongst them), is the one guy who Russell. Ilovehis hair... not to mention hisstyle of batting. WhatsApp message and after the auction, that we have has the six packs and he is always in the gym, the reply that Iget is just invested so much in the youth and training hard. So his wife’sreally lucky to have athumbs-up. (Laughs) So I there are so many youngsters and such ahandsome guy! tell him Sunny, type alittle more… or you are thinking about future. Samriddhi Singh (Class IX) to The hardwork: Ithink the important thing is to asmiley face or something! And Iremind everybody that Shivam Mavi:What is the one remind them of their plans, to make sure that even The party person of KKR: Who is apart from the youngsters that we thing that youwant to change in if someone hits you for fours and six, one good the party person? Everyone wants to have taken this year, for example a yourself? thing for abowler is that you can bowl the next have agood time but aquiet time… Kuldeep (Yadav) was coming off Shivam: Not blamingothersfor ball and you can get that person out. but Robbie, who do you think is the Under-19 World Cup win when we my mistakes andfiguring them Sometimes, it may not look like that. But we party person? picked them and it’sbeen abit of a out and focusing on that. do, we really go into details about how we are Robin: By popular legacy of players who have done very WhatSamriddhi told t2:Ifollow going to get each batsman out. The big thing for choice it sounds like well at ayoung age….Imean you the IPL regularly.RCB is my favourite these guys is dealing with pressure. At the end of (Andre) Russell. take aRobin who is right here! Robin team butIdofollow KKR. It wasagoodexperience the day, pressure is amental thing. It is not a Venky: Oh, Andre made his debut for . He was one seeing the players.Wefoundthat theywere really down physical thing that you can touch or feel or see. It Russell! Yes, yes! How of the most talented players coming to earth. Shivam Mavi told me he wanted to make does not mean it is not real. It is just dealing with could Iforget?! But Imust out… Ithink 20-21... something like changesinhimself. This showedthattheyare like the pressure, being able to perform at that peak tell you, in terms of partying… we that. commonpeople too,theyworkonthemselves.My level, under those pressures and being able to played agame Ithink in (pauses) You think about someone like favourite KKR playerisDinesh Karthik. Iwishthem allthe focus on those skills that you need to at that time. and Shah Rukh (Khan) , he is 29 now but he bestand pray that theyplaywell,playfair and win theIPL. And Ithink that’swhat the best players do. came for that. Then Isaw some has been playing since he was 20 We have seen Robbie doing it for many years in videos posted the next morning and years Ithink! It’sanamazing energy the IPL. He gets agood ball, but the next ball he guess who was dancing away and the experience of seeing what the hits out of the park for asix or afour. And that is with him? The shy man youngsters have already done, the Shubham Singh (Class IX) to Venky what it is. And we are lucky we have got two Mr Gill! youngsters we have in the team and Mysore: Iwant to knowwhat is the brilliant under-19s who are above the age in terms the new youngsters coming in and best wayaccording to youtotake The foodie: Piyush of how they perform and Iamlooking forward to their future. So for us, for me, the criticism? (Chawla)! working with these guys, going forward in the most satisfying thing to see… when Venky:Well,Ithink criticismisas future. The style icon: Ithink they perform realising their important as praisebecause They are not just gonna be great KKR players Robbie is pretty stylish! potential, they are scratching the that’swhatIthinkhelps youto but also future Indian stars. Robin: Iwouldn’tgoand say Iama surface right now… lots in store. understand howtoimprove, because everybody is only heaping praise on you... Imean allofushavescope forimprovement, callitcriticism or constructive feedback.Ithink it is very important thatweare open “It is alwaysnicetosee the young budding stars livebefore theireyes “This wasanamazing “It wasgreat hosting the team. to it. and to knowtheir struggles and hardworkthat they have putin. By experience... hosting the All of us enjoyedalot.We What Shubham told t2: Knight Ridersdon’t getting the stars,wewantthe kids to knowthat there are no shortcuts team.Thestudents were all focusonthe all-round usually giveupand theydon’tlet failureaffect them. butatthe same time they are achievable. We have multidisciplinary reallyexcited.There were a development of achild.We are My favourites are Russell, Robbieand . sportsand specialised coaches. Ifeel sportsisanintegralpart lot of requests forShubman expandingour sporting Theyhit the ball reallywell and Ilovethat. Icouldn’t because whenachild is focused on asport,has interest or practises Gill!” said Sunil Agarwal, infrastructure,” said Sanjay believe that Isaw them from such close quarters! asport,there is little time forthe child to deviate,”said Satabdi founderdirector, The Kumar Khemka,founder Goswami Bhattacharjee,principal, The Newtown School. Newtown School. director,The Newtown School. Text: Sulogna Ghosh and Pramita Ghosh