Apart from Virender Sehwag, who scored a brilliant 109 in his typical aggressive style, the only other batsman who demonstrated right technique and temperament against Dale Steyn, who fired on all cylinders in India's first innings in the first Test at Nagpur, was Subramaniam Badrinath.
He essayed a fine Test match innings while making a solid 56. (Just for record, India were bowled out for 233 in reply to South Africa's first innings total of 558 for 6 declared and forced to follow-on.)
What was remarkable was that it was his maiden appearance in Test cricket. For someone who has been scoring consistently well in domestic cricket, the 29-year-old Badrinath may have made a belated Test debut. But you cannot really blame him. He could have been a victim of the embarrassment-of-riches syndrome that has happily spread in Indian cricket for quite some time.
Yes, there are so many talented batsmen in Indian cricket today that it is a daunting task for the selectors when it comes to picking the national team. Team India itself is so packed with experienced batsmen that it is not easy even for the likes of Badrinath to find a place in it. Better late than never, as they say.
Haresh Pandya caught up with the Tamil Nadu batsman in Rajkot on the eve of the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final against Mumbai.
Considering your talent and consistent performance in domestic cricket, don't you think you made a belated Test debut?
No, I never think like that. Such things aren't in your hand, frankly speaking. You know it's not that easy to make it to the Indian team these days. But I'm very happy about finally getting a chance to play Test cricket. It shows that I've the talent and also that I'm noticed.
Don't you think injuries to Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman paved the way for your entry into the Test side?
All I want to say is I got an opportunity to prove my worth in Test cricket and I'm happy I delivered in my own limited way. I don't wish to comment on any other thing.
Wasn't it a Test baptism of fire?
I think it was! Dale Steyn was really quick and terrific. Others, too, weren't easy to handle. I was truly tested as a batsman. You had to show a lot of application and character. Though it was nothing but coincidence, it was great to play my first Test against one of the best teams in the world. The South African bowling and fielding on that particular day were really top-class and it wasn't easy to bat comfortably out there in the middle, let alone score some runs. I was pretty satisfied with my performance in the first innings.
You appeared set to play a big innings on debut, even to score a century, probably. Did you regret when you got out for 56?
Yes, I was disappointed with myself. I wanted to help my team in trouble. As you rightly judged, I was well-set. In fact, the century was very much in my mind after reaching the fifty. I think any batsman wishes to score a century in his first Test and I was no different. But no problem. That's life. That's cricket.
You must have been complimented by your team-mates on such an impressive knock. Whose words do you cherish?
Yes, all of them praised me and complimented me. And one of them even said I played like a veteran and not like someone making his Test debut. It was so good, so encouraging.
You could not repeat your first innings' performance and were out for only six in the second essay. Any regrets?
I think I was shaping well. I had batted for about 40 minutes and faced 30-odd balls. But it was a very good ball from Wayne Parnell that did me in.
Your memorable Test debut was spoiled a bit by the heavy defeat that Team India suffered, wasn't it?
It's not a question of my debut being memorable or not. The team, the country, always comes first and we all were very disappointed at losing the first Test. But, then, victory and defeat are part and parcel of the game. However, we bounced back soon and not just won the second Test at Kolkata but also levelled the series.
Now that you are a part of the Test team, do you feel you should be in India's one-day squad as well, having first played for the country in the shorter version?
Of course, I want to play One-Day Internationals, too. [Badrinath played three ODIs in the late 2008.] But I'm quite hopeful that I'll come back in India's one-day side. I've proved that I'm good both at longer as well as shorter versions of cricket. I don't want to be labelled as a Test or one-day specialist.
Do you hope to play in the World Cup on the subcontinent in 2011?
Yes, I do. And I'll keep performing and stake my claims. I'm always very positive about everything in life. So let's hope for the best.
