Two great left-handers maybe back in action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) next year. Brian Lara, the finest left-hander the world has ever seen, is gearing up for a return from retirement. So is Vinod Kambli, one of the most stylish Indian left-handers who failed to live up to his full potential, and who has expressed his desire to play in the IPL.
English County team Surrey are in talks with Lara to offer him a contract to play in the Twenty20 cricket in England this season. Earlier, Lara had held talks with Lalit Modi, chairman of the IPL, during his last visit to India and expressed his interest to play in the IPL next year.
Comeback
Kambli hopes to play alongside his old school mate Sachin Tendulkar and is working towards staging a comeback.
It has always been a treat to watch these two in action. And to get a full measure of their batting style, one should watch them live than on television. One of the finest knocks that I have seen of Lara is his sparkling 116 against South Africa at Cape Town in the 2003 World Cup. It was a packed stadium and the first match of the 2003 World Cup. The manner in which he slaughtered the South African attack made up of Alan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Lance Klusener and Jacques Kallis was breathtaking.
Never have I enjoyed such perfectly timed shots and the thud from every hit to the boundary resonates even now in my ears. What amazed me then was how he literally walked into his shots and that too against a speedster like Donald.
Past his prime
Lara may be past his prime now, but even if he displays 70 per cent of his talent in the next IPL, it will be worth the money a spectator invests on his ticket.
Similarly, I have been fortunate to report Kambli's three double centuries in domestic cricket when he played for Mumbai. What surprised me was his ability to comfortably position himself for his shots. The balance he maintained while executing his shots was unbelievable. But when he lost touch, mainly due to his lack of focus on the game, he was a pathetic sight.
Kambli climbed to great heights through sheer natural talent. Unfortunately, he failed to polish and hone his talents. So, if he decides to put his heart into his game now, cricket lovers will be able to once again enjoy some great shots. The IPL is tailor-made for Kambli and Lara.
