R. Prasanna, in more ways than one, is a different kettle of fish when compared to many of his Tamil Nadu teammates. In a unit that dazzles with a profusion of talented personnel –– the likes of R. Ashwin, K. Dinesh Karthik and M. Vijay –– he’s the quintessential antithesis.
Solid, workmanlike and a battle-hardened trouble-shooter, Prasanna has provided Tamil Nadu’s middle-order with some much-needed tranquillity in the last few years.
A glance at the left-hander’s records reveals that he’s scored 2008 runs from 39 first-class matches at an average of 40.16. While it may be the marker of a good, if not great, batsman, the true value of Prasanna’s contributions can only be ascertained by studying the context in which his runs were made. For instance, his century against Uttar Pradesh at Meerut a few days ago was instrumental in ensuring that Tamil Nadu finished with a decent score. The innings was notable for the way he shepherded the lower order.
Batting at number six, Prasanna doesn’t always get an opportunity to build a long innings. “You either come in with the team having scored heavily or when it’s struggling. Whenever I get an opportunity to play a long innings, I have the cushion to take my time. It suits my natural style.”
His slightly-crouched stance and a penchant for nurdling the ball around remind one of the former Australian opener Simon Katich. “I like his batting. He would normally grind out his runs. I, too, am a batsman in the same mould,” says Prasanna.
The 31-year-old’s cricketing journey commenced when he was in Class VIII. “That’s when I joined Santhome from PSBB (K.K. Nagar),” recalls Prasanna, who studied B.Com at Vivekananda College. “My uncles, K. Srinivasan and K. Bharathan, who are umpires, were my earliest coaches. Srinivasan is also my mentor. I owe a lot to him.”
In his next stage, finding a berth in the Tamil Nadu middle-order was improbable as stalwarts such as S. Sharath and S. Sriram ruled the roost. Prasanna made his first-class debut for Tripura in 2004, a season when he came of age. “I batted at No.3 and scored 98 in my first match. I had to put a price on my wicket as the team depended on me.”
The Agartala experience also helped him evolve as a professional. “It was a year-long stint that taught me a lot. I shared a room with another player there. The place would get dark at around 4.30 p.m. and there was hardly any entertainment. My life there revolved around practice and matches.”
Upon coming back, Prasanna gained an entry into the Tamil Nadu side in 2006, replacing Hemang Badani. “The following year, I played two matches before missing out. Only in the last few years have I been a regular in the side.”
Does he think he received a raw deal? “No. After a good season in 2006, I failed in two games and Abhinav Mukund replaced me. He started with a bang and didn’t look back. I lost my place because I didn’t perform.” The response gives us a peek at his mental make-up: a clear-headed, unaffected approach sans negativity.
Prasanna’s absence of ego is also reflected in his inclination to field at silly-point or short-leg — positions usually reserved for newcomers. “I love fielding close to the bat, especially at slip and short-leg. One of our younger players, B. Indrajith, offered to field at short-leg, but I said we would share duties.”
Unsung hero Prasanna is quite comfortable being the unsung hero and is not swayed by the flamboyant approach of other batsmen. “My job is to hold the innings together. I don’t get influenced by others’ styles.”
He has his own method of motivating himself. “To the layperson, I would be just one of the guys. Keen observers would notice the importance of some performances. I feel such small contributions matter. I want my presence to be felt.”
A fan of Brian Lara and Sourav Ganguly, Prasanna also admires Sharath and S. Badrinath. “One of my most unforgettable moments was when Badri said my century against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinal last year was one of the best he had watched.” A shy, quiet man, his best friend in the Tamil Nadu team is a contrast to his personality — Vijay.
Prasanna, who got married this May, is a huge A.R. Rahman fan. “I listen only to Tamil film songs,” he smiles. While he intends to play for another three years at least, a career in coaching or umpiring is something he’s keen on after retirement.
As for his immediate goals, Prasanna has only one target in sight: winning the Ranji Trophy.
