[Exclusive] Ever since I started playing Ranji, my aim has been to represent India: Akshay Wadkar

Akshay Wadkar led Vidarbha to their third title with their triumph in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 edition as his team got the better of Kerala in the summit clash on the basis of their first innings lead.

Vidarbha topped Group B by winning six of their seven fixtures. They then won their quarter-final and semi-final games against Tamil Nadu and Mumbai by 198 runs and 80 runs, respectively. The all-important clash against Kerala was played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.

Wadkar racked up 722 runs in 18 innings. The run tally entailed 73 fours and five maximums. Overall, it was a comprehensive season for the Wadkar-led unit. The leading run-getter (Yash Rathod) and the leading wicket-taker (Harsh Dubey) of the Ranji Trophy season belonged to the winning side.

You were entrusted with Vidarbha’s captaincy during the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy after your side suffered heavy defeats to Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh. Looking back, how did the transition feel? Did you feel any added pressure? 

We already knew we weren’t going to qualify for the tournament, so the selectors decided to give me a chance to see how I’d handle the captaincy. I wasn’t informed about it beforehand - it came after we were out of the tournament following two big losses. Honestly, I wasn’t really prepared at that time. 

I used to speak regularly with Faiz (Faizal) bhai and Wasim (Jaffer) bhai, so I had a decent understanding of field placements. I didn’t have much idea about situational awareness - like when to bring on which bowler or when to promote certain batters. The two matches I captained that season gave me valuable experience, which I carried forward into the next year.

The entire Vidarbha unit must have been heartbroken after the loss to Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final last year. How did the team regroup after the disappointment and what was your message to the players?

Yes, losing the final was tough, but when we looked back at the whole tournament, we realised we had played really well overall - dominant performances throughout, except that one one-sided loss to Saurashtra at home. We didn’t let one poor innings in the final define our entire campaign. That can happen to any team in any tournament. 

After regrouping, we focused on staying aware in key situations rather than overhauling everything. Our summer camp started soon after the season, with fitness routines and team discussions kicking in. From the beginning, we were clear that major changes weren’t needed - we stuck to the same processes and routines that had worked well. The only difference was making sure we learned from the small mistakes and stayed more alert in pressure moments.

How would you describe your temperament as a captain? Are you someone who likes to be hands-on when it comes to planning strategies or do you trust your teammates to understand and execute their respective roles?

I usually like to stay calm and composed on the field. Like I mentioned earlier, I go by the situation. With experienced bowlers, I mostly let them set their own fields — I just tell them to go ahead with what suits them. With the lesser seasoned ones, I discuss things first and then share my inputs. 

I always walk in with a flexible mindset, have conversations with the bowlers, and then we plan and execute accordingly. Getting to know what’s running in the bowler’s mind is equally important as compared to what the plans the skipper has mapped out.

In the quarter-final against Tamil Nadu, you got off the mark on the 19th delivery after your side was in a spot of bother following your decision to bat first in seemingly challenging conditions. Many batters might have felt pressured to go for a release shot in such conditions but you stayed composed. Have you always been this calm at the crease since the early days? 

I’ve always believed in playing as per what the situation demands. This approach has been ingrained in me since childhood. In that match, I came in during the second session of the first day itself and knew the team needed me to stay out there. 

When you prioritize the team's needs over personal goals, it helps everyone. Like I’ve said before, multi-day cricket is all about grinding it out in the middle. There’s no room for being chaotic - patience is everything, whether you’re batting or bowling.

How much weightage do you place on running between the wickets? Do you dedicate time to work on that particular skill in your pre-match training sessions? 

During net sessions, there’s usually an imaginary field - so I talk to bowlers about who’s in the circle and the fielders on the fence. My main focus is always on strike rotation - it eases pressure and keeps the scoreboard ticking. If you keep waiting for boundary balls, you end up missing singles which ends up building pressure. 

I’ve been playing for a while now, so it’s instinctive - I can usually tell if a ball is heading into the gap or not. I don’t really do anything specific in nets, but yeah, if your running between the wickets is sharp, you stay in the game longer and the bowler feels the heat too.

Forty-two out of your 83 innings in Ranji Trophy have been at No. 6. On 25 occasions, you have batted at No. 5. Have you never considered taking on a more permanent role higher up the order? 

I think it’s largely because I’m a wicketkeeper. Batting in the middle-order gives me time to regroup after long spells behind the stumps. Playing the old ball and then facing the second new ball is a very different challenge compared to facing the new ball straight away.

I actually started out as a bowler - both pace and spin - in my early days. I fared quite well in both the departments. Used to pick up quite a lot of wickets while bowling both in different phases of the same match. Someone at my academy talked me into trying my hand at keeping since we didn’t have enough keepers at one point. I gave it a shot, did well, and enjoyed it. Since then, it’s only been keeping and batting.

Over the years, you have faced sides which have had highly competent batters lower down the order. What’s your approach in countering them? 

There’s always a strategy - whether it’s for an opener or someone coming in at No. 11. When tailenders walk in, I usually tell my bowlers straight up to hit them with a bouncer first, push them on the backfoot so they’re always thinking about the next short one and don’t settle for the fuller ball. 

You can’t walk into a game without a plan. My thinking stays flexible depending on the match situation, but I always make it a point to guide the bowlers on what to do and what to avoid in relation to different scenarios.

You put down a regulation chance to dismiss Tanush Kotian on the fifth delivery of Day 3 in the semi-final against Mumbai. Kotian and Akash Anand added 56 runs from there. How did you feel at that moment knowing the opportunity had slipped through? 

It was still early in the day, and for the first 5–10 overs, I brushed it off thinking, ‘Never mind, another chance will come by’. However, as time passed and Kotian started settling in, I did feel I’d dropped a big one. The pitch had eased up, and the bowlers weren’t getting the same kind of help off the deck.

I won’t lie, negative thoughts did creep in. But eventually, I told myself, ‘What’s gone is gone’. I had to stay in the present to keep things in control. Thankfully, we pulled it back and ended up securing the first innings lead, which turned out to be crucial in the grand scheme of things.

Tell us something about your cricketing experience in your hometown Nagpur. Did you train at a single academy while growing up? And would you say Nagpur shares a similar cricketing culture like Mumbai or Delhi where cricketers often attend several coaching centers to hone their game? 

Absolutely, I've trained at just one academy since childhood - Nagpur Cricket Academy. My coach, Satish Takle sir, who’s an ex-Vidarbha player, laid down all my basics, especially technique-wise. On the tactical side, I’ve learned a lot from Chandrakant Pandit sir during the time spent in his presence.

Nagpur may not always get spoken about like Mumbai or Delhi, but the cricketing culture here is just as intense. A lot of aspiring cricketers here do switch or attend multiple academies, but for me, it’s always been one place throughout.

How did you balance academics and cricket while growing up? 

Honestly, I wasn’t too focused on academics growing up. My marks during schooldays were quite average. But thankfully, there wasn’t much pressure from home to prioritize studies over cricket. I did manage to complete my graduation in Physical Education, although it was quite a challenge juggling it with the workload of the sport.

You have been playing with spectacles for quite some time now. A few of your teammates - Yash Rathod and Nachiket Bhute - wear them as well. Do you feel there is any bias in the minds of selectors when evaluating such cricketers? 

I have heard about a few players who have found themselves being unfortunately categorised under the bracket of being physically unprepared during my childhood days. However, times have changed now. I’ve never felt any bias because of wearing spectacles. It all comes down to personal comfort - some players use lenses, some prefer glasses. I tried lenses but they didn’t suit me due to blurriness, itching with sweat, constant adjusting. Hence, I stuck with spectacles.

Take someone like Yash Rathod, who wears spectacles and was our top run-scorer last season. Even internationally, guys like Mitchell Santner and Daniel Vettori have played with spectacles. It’s more about perception - how someone on the outside sees it. But I don’t think performance should ever be judged on that. For me, spectacles are what work best, and I’ve never felt disadvantaged because of them.

What message would you like to convey to aspiring cricketers striving to balance their professional careers with their passion for the sport?

My message to young cricketers would be to try and pursue both cricket and studies side by side. Realistically, it’s tough to give 100% to both at once, but education is crucial. Cricket is a gamble, and not everyone makes it big. So, having a strong academic foundation to fall back on is extremely important.

Every sportsperson has aspirations that evolve with time. Have you set your eyes on anything as you enter another chapter of your playing journey?

When I played for the U-19s, my next goal was U-23. Once I achieved that, it was about breaking into the Ranji Trophy side. I’ve always tried to be one step better than my previous self. Ever since I started playing Ranji, my focus has been on working towards representing the country. I don’t think too far ahead with respect to where I see myself in the next four or five years. My focus stays on the short-term goals I’ve set for myself and channeling to fulfill them to the best of my abilities.