Jonty Rhodes believes that it was team effort that helped Mumbai Indians clinch the Indian Premier League title this season.
“What made the Mumbai victory special was that not one player was top of the runs, wickets etc. This was a complete team effort,” said Rhodes, the side’s fielding coach.
“Different players, at different times, performed and took the team home. Even the way we won the final... It was a low scoring game. Sure, we had to have a man-of-the-match, but it wasn’t one player who was outstanding throughout. Everybody performed and that sums up the season for MI: consolidated effort by team.”
The former South African middle-order batsman who, many say, revolutionised fielding in the modern game, said the overall improvement in out-cricket these days is a natural progress that every sport has to make to survive. “If you don’t change you are going to get left behind,” he said.
“They are all saying catches win matches and that’s true. When you play on a wicket that is flat, one good run-out, one good chance that you convert makes a very big difference to the team.
“From the fielding point of view, never before have we had to defend the boundary like we do [today]. The likes of Kieron Pollard, Martin Guptill... some of the catches these guys take are amazing.”
When not involved with cricket, Rhodes keeps himself fit by surfing, a sport he has learned to love post retirement. In fact, it is to promote the Indian Open of Surfing that Rhodes is here.
“I started surfing [only after] I retired, and that’s a pity, because I’ve been to India, Australia, Sri Lanka and all around South Africa during my playing career and never once hit the water,” he said.
“It was Paddy Upton (now Delhi Daredevils head coach), who brought us here and introduced us to the Mantra Surf Club and the Surfing Federation of India,” Rhodes said.
Elaborating on the charms India holds for the surfer, Rhodes said: “In India, not [too many locals] are into surfing, and nor are the tourists. To surf you can go to Australia, Bali, Indonesia... but those places you will find a lot of local surfers.
“I’ve been working as a tourism ambassador for South Africa, taking Indians there. But now, South Africans, after seeing my Facebook posts, want to come here for the waves.”
