Interview with Mikkhail Vaswani talks about Indian cricket, his famous show Dial C for Cricket on Neo Prime and life

Mikkhail Vaswani is an Anchor, host of a live sports show, cricket writer and a motivational speaker. He is respected in the industry and by associates for his excellent rapport with sports figures. His insight about the games and player’s, is quick-witted, and has that adaptive ability to master virtually any sport.

Mikkhail is best known for his famous prime time show Dial C for cricket on Neo cricket which gave the common audience a chance to interact with cricketers and analysts live. Honest, razor sharp, crisp are his prime ways of expressing his views and consent.  Ankit Mishra the editor of CricTracker.com had the pleasure of meeting him for an interview which ended up like a chat. Cricket, life, experiences and cricketers were thoroughly discussed. The interviewer delineates Mikkhail as ‘a really pleasing persona with immense knowledge and obliging’

Edited excerpts of their dialogue

Q.You have been an interviewer to many how does it feel to be on the other side?

A.This feels nice, quite good but at the same time a little odd, I’ll not say I am nervous. But, it’s exciting to be interviewed and I am really looking forward to it. Must mention this is probably the first time that I am out of my comfort zone.

Q.At what point did you decide you wanted to be a sports presenter?

A.I have played professional cricket at the junior level captained my college, university and zone teams. So whenever I got out, would walk back to the changing room, hold the bat upside down and start commentating for the game from there on. My friends often told me I did a better job here than on the field. This was when I seriously thought of it and eventually got a mass communication degree to pursue this as a career.

Q.Who is that person in your life to fall back on who inspires you up every time it fell a little low?

A. I have always enjoyed enormous support and backing from my family helped me sail through tough times with a lot of ease. My sister has not only been my biggest fan but also a motivator and confidant. Mom and dad always encouraged me to take risk and follow my dreams. I would love to thank them for everything, whatever I do or say is never sufficient to depict this.

Q.How did Dial C for Cricket happen? Was it your inclination for cricket that directed you towards this?

A.It was my love for cricket that made me get into sports anchoring. Dial C happened over a period of time this after I had worked in the broadcasting industry at different capacities. Dial C for Cricket was an opportunity and I grabbed it and once my work was appreciated by fans and cricketers. At the show we always tried to give our viewers a fair opinion. That is why I guess it was such a hit people followed us for what we served them and soon I realized it was an honest platform to address the concerns of Indian cricket. There was no room for diplomacy.

Q.With so much competition around is your job in its toughest phase now?

A.Sports’ anchoring is a very niche and highly competitive profession. More so now after former cricketers have become sportscasters. I only wish anchors had a chance of playing cricket too (laughs). But, I firmly believe if you are good at what you do you will always have a place, an audience to showcase and appreciate your work. Like most industries, this one too is not just about what you know but, rather about ‘who you know’.

Q.Tell us about your cricketing skills and cricket that you have played?

A.My cricketing career began when I was 10, played cricket as an opening batsman and bowled a little bit of off-spin without sounding too pompous I was regarded as one of the best fielders of my zone. Played cricket in Karnataka in the city of Mangalore also captained the teams I played for. I have travelled to Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka playing club cricket. In fact I have trained at the Australian cricket academy in Adelaide, Del Monte under Rodney Marsh and Wayne Philips. Those days were golden I so wish ‘I could get those days back’ after having played competitive cricket for almost 15 years.

Q.Have you had enough interaction with the younger breed of Indian cricketers to figure out the difference between them and those of the previous era?

A.Yes, I have interacted with the younger breed, rather enough to figure it out. The youngsters these days are very focused but my only fear is that they don’t get swayed away by momentary distractions. They need to emulate the conduct, discipline and humility of former cricketers.

Q.Which format of cricket do you enjoy the most and who is your favourite cricketers?

A.No doubt its Test cricket, I just love Test cricket. My favourite cricketers are Irfan Pathan, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

Q.Have you had the pleasure of interacting with these guys?

A.Absolutely, Irfan has a very special place in my heart he is a really genuine, sincere and committed individual. At the same time he is very understanding and respectful as a person. Every time I meet Irfan I get to learn something new about life and sport. He is a down to earth, humble and fun-loving person personality. Irfan to me is an all-rounder in the real sense a fighter who never even thinks of gives up. He is a right example for a 3 am friend.

I also had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Sachin Tendulkar in 2009. I had met Rahul in Chennai during the Test match, in which he also scored a brilliant hundred.

Q.Cricket is now under constant surveillance for corruption. Do you think IPL is to be blamed for this?

A.Yes, IPL has not really helped the credibility of the sport. But, it has rather exposed young and vulnerable cricketers immensely to the bad world of betting and spot fixing. Apart from that Good governance, administration and accountability is clearly missing from it. India lost one of its finest Test bowlers S Sreesanth due to this, we can only hope IPL 8 can restore and strengthen the credibility of brand IPL.

Q.Are you concerned about the future of Indian cricket looking at the way they have slumped overseas in Tests particularly. Is the BCCI doing enough to secure the future of Indian cricket?

A.Indian cricket today is a place of misplaced priorities. Club cricket has become the most sought after deal for every cricketer. What has happened to Test championship? On a day when we are hearing of a new T20 league every day. No former cricketer wants to take up the responsibility and BCCI is governed by politicians, Indian cricket fans are taken for a ride. Where does the buck stop; I only hope young Indian cricketers embrace character cricket (Tests) and minimize on cabaret cricket (T20 league) for a strong foundation and basics.

Q.Do you agree that Indian Test team needs to get over with Dhoni and Fletcher or you find no suitable replacement for them at the moment?

A.I personally believe Dhoni has been lucky to have survived so many Test debacles. Though I am a huge fan of MS Dhoni but, I honestly believe time has come to review his position in Tests. Going by what he once mentioned about his Test future which he would review in 2013.

Fletcher at the age of 65 should make way for a young coach. It’s not about being the boss it’s about India bossing around the middle. Which they have not been doing overseas at all. If coaches and captains have been sacked for under-performance in the past what makes Fletcher so indispensable.

Q.You are an expressive writer as well; will we see you exploring this horizon in the wider frame?

A.Definitely, there is a large audience on print than television. I do write my blog www.mikkhailvaswani.com and will continue to express my honest, unbiased opinion there.

Mikkhail likes to inspire people and wants to make this world a better place to live, quotes this with ‘All it takes is a few good men & women to bring about change.’