Shanthakumaran Sreesanth makes no bones about expressing himself. Whether it is his views on cricket, his love for dance, the emotional outbursts on the field, walking the ramp, his forays into fashion and modelling, Sreesanth is dominated by his feelings rather than logic or abstract principles.
Cricket, cinema and fashion have become the faces of entertainment. Sreesanth is seen as much on sports pages as on Page 3. And the speedster is quite cool about it.
“I do things which I believe are right, which I enjoy doing and not what others may say is right. It is more to do with my individuality. I have been misunderstood for my attitude. I don't think I can change, though I have tried to make adjustments…” Sreesanth breaks off, running in and completing his bowling action.
One thing about Sreesanth is that the limelight is forever trained on him, even when he is not playing cricket. He, along with Kareena Kapoor, was voted PETA India's sexiest vegetarian celebrity, he walked the ramp for designer Vikram Phadnis, along with Priyanka Chopra at the Mumbai Lakme Fashion Week, and more recently, was one of the judges for the Miss Universe India beauty pageant. “This is a five-year contract offered by Sushmita Sen. It was a good experience being on the panel with the likes of Vivek Oberoi, Shobha De, Farah Khan. I took it because I love doing this. I enjoyed the first edition. I'm sure anyone would when you are in the midst of beautiful people,” he says with a mischievous smile.
Tattoos and fashion
A nifty dresser, Sreesanth has now inked himself. He has permanent tattoos on his right arm and one on his back. “I did it first in Mumbai and completed it from Sydney. There is an angel to protect me with a pair of hands holding a rosary and the sign ‘Om' going with it. The one at the back, more complicated, has the number 36 in the middle, a dice with one and six. Thirty six in the number of my cricket jersey and the other numbers denote the unsure nature of cricket,” Sreesanth explains.
Fame, glamour and glitz come with a price. And Sreesanth is slowly coming to terms with it. For someone who loves the company of friends, eating out and partying, he has often found a loss of anonymity. “I'm more careful now. In the past I have heard stories about me being linked with so many girls. During such events I meet so many people. It is bound to happen that you talk with them and even become friends with some. Sometimes such relationships get blown out of proportion. Anyway, taking a cue from Sachin Paaji (Tendulkar) I have decided to stop partying.”
But is there nothing serious beyond these gossips? “Certainly not. My family has started looking out for a girl for me in right earnest. I think I have got about five to six years in international cricket. I will get married and the girl will be a foreigner.” His parents, listening to the talk, look at him in wonder. Sreesanth continues, “Maybe an Indian girl settled abroad, perhaps England…” he stops, gestures to his parents and breaks out in a loud laugh.
Sreesanth feels that his county stint with Warwickshire has certainly done wonders for him – personally and cricketing-wise. “There you are not a star. Of course, people do recognise you and respect you but leave you and your life alone. I stayed in an apartment, did the cooking and washing by myself. After all the pampering back home those months were a true lesson. With Allan Donald, one of my childhood heroes, in charge, my cricket also improved a lot. It's a lovely place. I would like to go back, even settle down there once I hang up my boots.”
For the time being Sreesanth is focussed on the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. He is making a comeback into the side after being ignored for the short version teams. He hopes to make full use of this chance to prove his worth. “Coming back to the team is a wonderful feeling. My career has been wrought with setbacks. I don't take them very emotionally. Frankly, I like this to happen for it makes me reflect on myself, my pitfalls, strengths. For me they are not just stepping stones, they are more valuable.”
If there is something else that Sreesanth is passionate about other than cricket, it is dancing. He was part of a dance reality show, matched Katrina Kaif step for step at an awards function and the first reaction after hitting Andre Nell for a huge six was to break into a jig. “It is spontaneous. Right from my schooldays dance has been an integral part of my life. My dream is to learn dance from a New York school. I'll do this even if it is after my cricketing days. Not to perform on stage but only to fulfil that urge.”
