RCB runs in my blood, would love to be a part of the team: Luvnith Sisodia [Interview]

Scoring a century in a 50-over game was once considered a significant achievement. A double century in the same format seemed wishful thinking until Sachin Tendulkar broke the barrier in 2010 and Rohit Sharma made it a little routine thereafter. It took ODI cricket 2962 games and nearly four decades to get its first double centurion. A triple century – unthinkable?

Karnataka’s Luvnith Sisodia, with his 129-ball 312 blinder, transcended those boundaries, and even if that came at a corporate one-day tournament, a triple century is no longer in the territory of unthinkable. His eyebrow-raising effort shot him into the limelight instantly and his performance at the most recent edition of the BCCI U25 Trophy, where he struck over 230, is evidence that that knock was no fluke and Sisodia is not a one-match wonder.

What else? He belongs to the highly sought-after breed of cricketers in the world of booming franchise-based leagues: wicketkeeper-batter. A hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batter who can finish games – you know what this combination in cricket can do.

With the 2022 IPL mega auction hours away and two new teams looking to build from scratch, would his recent exploits materialise into a contract? What if it does and what if it does not? Sisodia answers that and much more in a candid chat with CricTracker.

You hail from one of the domestic cricket powerhouses in India. How has your experience been with Karnataka’s cricket setup? 

If you’re playing for the senior team of Karnataka, it’s like being a step ahead or like playing for the India A team. There’s a cut-throat competition, everyone’s performing and there are big players here so you have to do something extraordinary to get into the team. But, it’s always a very healthy challenge here and whenever I was a part of the team, I was always made to feel comfortable. That’s how teams build. One thing we’re known for is unity, on the field and off the field. So, that’s one of the good positives from the Karnataka team.

You have already an association with the IPL, what were the trials like? 

I had got a call from Rajasthan Royals two years ago. I had to go to Nagpur and had a good time. People watching me told me that ‘you’ve done well’, and I had then featured in U25 state games. I was a part of the Syed Mushtaq Ali team for Karnataka and I had a rough patch for a year. I did well in the league stage for Karnataka but I couldn’t get a chance in the team.

Then I was in the 25 side but there also while starting the tournament, I wasn’t playing. I then got a chance in the quarter-final and the semis and I did well there as far as I know; the scouts saw me and I got a call from a few teams for the trials. It was obviously different, but there’s so much pressure to perform there as it’s a one-day trial. You can’t judge someone in one day is what I feel, but I delivered on that day so [it was] very special for me

Walk us through your 2019 SMAT stint. 

After playing age-group, suddenly getting into a T20 tournament was big, I had to prepare a lot. The best part was that we won the tournament and it was after a long time. Everything was new to me – playing with big players around, I didn’t know how to address them, it was all new to me. But it was a very big learning curve. I always thought that there was only one way to look at cricket, and that is improving your skills, but here I leant the mental aspects as well. You need to be in the right state of mind, it makes a difference. You have to be physically, mentally and tactically fit.

How was your experience leading the U23 team during CK Nayudu Trophy?

That was the first time I was given the captaincy. For being a captain, you have to see things differently. There was a little bit of extra pressure which had I put on myself. That’s why I felt that the season where I captained was a dicey one for me. That’s when the bad patch started for me, but everything’s a learning curve. And I believe in unity so I just love seeing the team together. Although we didn’t qualify, all of us were there for each other.

You have had the privilege of training under RX Murali sir. What have you learnt?

I just have one thing to say when anyone asks me this: he’s magic. He’s just magic, he just has the power of reading people. I trusted him blindly because of what I’d heard about him and I’ve been with him for long. He’s had a very big role in what I am today. But, not just him, all the coaches have helped me – Jagannath sir when I was just a kid, my state coach Deepak sir, Rahul Menon sir, the captain of our club team in Bangalore.

But yes, the ultimate credit goes to RX sir. I was in a very bad state a year and a half ago due to COVID-19 hitting everyone and us sitting at home. When my career was going haywire, RX sir was there for me. Everyone can butter you but he comes straight in the face and says “You’re doing this wrong”. You ask anyone they will say that he’s magic.

Not many people have world records to their name at your age. Your 312 in a 50-over game has earned you one. What comes to mind when you think of that?

The only thing in my mind that day was that I want to bat. I didn’t think of a hundred, or a double or even a triple. I was just batting and batting. This was when I was having a rough patch, so I just wanted to bat and my process came out right that day. I’ve become a very strong believer in the process now because of the magician [RX Murali]. And after that game, I got some limelight. People started seeing me, and I was very happy for that. They notice you only when you do special things, that’s the harsh truth of this world. It helped me get here, in terms of my name.

Despite the glitz and glamour of T20 cricket, most cricketers fancy playing Test cricket for the country. How do you want to establish yourself – T20 specialist or Test player or an all-format player?

If you want to play at the highest level of cricket, then the most challenging part is Test cricket. I’m not saying that T20s doesn’t challenge you, everybody loves the shorter format, but Test cricket has its own thrill. Facing the red ball with your country’s symbol in your helmet is a separate challenge. People think I’m an aggressive batsman but I’ve scored a double-hundred in the longest format and have played 400 odd balls in a game, so I can play all the formats.

You have buzzed the T20 world already. With a mega auction upon you, how confident are you of bagging an IPL contract?

I’m hopeful [about getting a contract] but that’s something which isn’t in my control. I just focus on controlling the controllables, so not thinking of an IPL contract as it is something beyond my control. If I get one, I’m ready as I’ve been preparing very well. All you can do is react to what’s happening and control what you have in your hands.

Any specific team you would want to represent in the IPL?

I am from Bangalore, so you can guess my answer [chuckles]. I always admired RCB. It isn’t a team but an emotion. With Virat Kohli being around, and with the legends that have been in their side it’s great. I am a big RCB fan and as I play for Karnataka, it runs in my blood. I’d love to be a part of RCB.

Virat Kohli is no longer the captain of India or even RCB. What’s your take on that? 

Irrespective of him being the captain or not, he’s still the same genius, he is still going to be Virat Kohli for everybody. Whether he’s the captain or not doesn’t make a difference at all. I don’t know about others but from my perspective, I always look at him in the same way.

With all the cancellations, the uncertainty and so much more due to Covid-19, how do you keep yourself motivated?

It’s very hard to digest what’s happening. We have continuously been playing cricket for so many years and now we’re playing sometimes and sometimes we’re not, and suddenly a game is postponed. But whenever we see the news and see that people are suffering, we realise we are privileged. Like I said before, I can’t control the uncontrollables, I can’t control COVID-19. The only thing I can control is how I can keep myself safe and how do I survive.

Some in your circuit say you have a flair like Sourav Ganguly. Do you agree?

It’s an honour to even hear that, but he’s a living legend and my comparison with a living legend is very unfair. I am yet to even represent my country. When you look at some players you just can’t compare them with anyone else. So, I would not want to be compared with him.

Your cricketing role model? 

I will not say role model but I’ve always looked up to Virat Kohli. I just love his intensity and attitude towards the game. The way he’s gone through his cricket in Delhi, not getting enough chances but then delivering in every game when he got it, that’s motivating. You need some real mental and physical strength to do that. I look up to him, just want to open the innings with him or bat with him at least once in my lifetime.

With the way Rishabh Pant has established himself in the national team, do you think it has become harder for wicketkeeper-batters to get a look-in? He is very young and has many years ahead of him…

Rishabh Pant is a legend in the making. But I’m not here to replace anyone. I just want to play cricket. If an opportunity does come in my way, I’ll grab it. Nobody has seen what has happens tomorrow and that’s what keeps me going.