The IPL was a great experience: Parvez Rasool

Parvez Rasool has been the man who has been turning heads for quite some time. The all-rounder from Kashmir has made it past the difficult times in Kashmir to finally feature in the IPL with his current team, the Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, it hasn’t been all that easy for Rasool, especially following his tough road to success. Speaking in an exclusive interview to Sportskeeda, Rasool stated that Daniel Vettori is one of the friendliest coaches that he had ever come across.

“It was a great experience, especially because we reached the finals. We had a great team, this time, consisting of lots of star players. I got to learn a lot under Daniel Vettori. Although I didn’t get to play much, the training sessions used to very nice and helpful.”

“Vettori, as a coach, is very inspiring. There is so much to learn from him. He is very friendly in nature; I have hardly seen any coach who is so friendly, treating everyone the same way. Virat Kohli is an inspiration to the whole country. He works so hard and is so motivated. I remember the match against KKR when he had injured his hand. He still came in to bat. The guy has the immense mental toughness and a hunger to perform, and we should all learn that from him.”

“Although I bat at 4-5, I see myself as a bowler who can bat. I have done well with the bat (2869 runs with 8 centuries). I am working hard on my batting also. Spinners need to keep improving myself, especially when the conditions are challenging. At the NCA bowlers camp, there are a lot of opportunities to hone your talent, and coaches like Daniel Vettori can give you invaluable tips for the same.”

Also, check out – 9 facts about Parvez Rasool: The fabulous cricketer from J&K

“The J&K Cricket Association is doing nothing for the players. There is no infrastructure for the players to work with. A small state like Tripura has a better team than us.Last year, the state’s Ranji team was compiled one day before the tournament started. How are you supposed to perform well in such a scenario? There is so many politics in one group: there are even multiple trials taking place.”

“The BCCI has done something for Rajasthan cricket, it is high time they come forward and do something for us too. The office bearers sit in their office, but it is the players who have to go there and perform. I have seen this happen in U16, U19, U22: Players are talented but they can’t advance. There is nothing for the players in Jammu and Kashmir to practice.”

Finally, speaking about the players he looks up to in the Indian team, Rasool said, “Amongst the current crop of cricketers, I am inspired by Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh. I get to learn a lot about the different ways to bowl to batsmen in various kinds of wickets. They give me the motivation to work hard and perform well as a spinner.”

“My biggest motivation is to keep playing well and getting Jammu and Kashmir on the world map because we have fallen way behind. The players in the state are talented, yet without the required infrastructure, they just cannot advance forward.”

Last updated 29/6/2016 11:20 PM IST