He was always considered a decent bat lower down the order but K. Gowtham gave a different meaning to slam-bang cricket with his 11-ball 33 that snatched victory for Rajasthan Royals from defeat against Mumbai Indians.
Now, with a long break from action since then — a week without a game seems an eternity in the IPL — the spinner is able to look back at that innings with a neutral eye.
“It’s a wonderful feeling that the game came out really well. Being a part of wining side is the best feeling you can have. Yes, people start recognising you and that’s the good part about it,” Gowtham said in an interaction with The Hindu. But he insists he is still a long way from stamping his credentials as a genuine all-rounder.
“I wouldn’t say I have proven my credentials as of now. There is something still lacking, I think I need to do both — bat and bowl — in the same game . That’s when I would say I have done something for the team. There are a lot of places that I can improve and I look forward to doing it in coming games,” he explained.
But that whirlwind innings ensured his name became a trend after the game and he readily admits the bigger platform that IPL gives makes it easier to showcase one’s skills.
“It’s a bigger stage, a bigger audience watching you and everyone knows what you can do with the ball and bat. It has given me a stage to express myself better,” he said.
Till that game against the defending champion, Gowtham was primarily seen as a bowler who could bat a little, if needed, despite a First-Class century against his name in the past season. Gowtham himself admitted that was the role the team had assigned to him earlier, but it had changed now.
“My role was of a bowler who can bat, but right now the confidence the team and management has given me has changed that — when I am supposed to bat, I am a batsman, when I am supposed to bowl I am a bowler and when I am supposed to field I am a good fielder. These are now the roles assigned to me,” he laughed.
And what role does he see for himself in the team? “I would say I want to be match-winner! The primary goal would be to win the tournament but personally, I would like to just win couple of games for the team.”
