Welcome to 18. On April 18, 2008, cricket changed forever. The IPL, when it was launched, was taken with a pinch of salt by the purists. It had to be. Back then, the T20 format was still “pyjama cricket” despite India winning the T20 World Cup a year previously.
As the IPL enters adulthood, it has become one of the biggest sporting brands in the world. And it has remained the breeding ground for young Indian talents.
Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals were the story of the first season. Not only did they go on to win the title, the team also mother-henned some future India stars. Ravindra Jadeja would eventually become a blue-chip all-rounder. Yusuf Pathan would boast his World Cup winner’s medal. They still swear by their skipper who left for his heavenly abode three years ago. Royals have retired the Shirt No. 23.
The inaugural edition also saw a batter from a cricketing backwater scripting his own story. Swapnil Asnodkar, from Goa, scored 311 runs from nine matches for Royals, with a strike rate of 133.47. Back in those days, it was staggering for an opener. As the format evolved, 150-plus has become the new normal.
How it all began? “In those days, there were catchment areas for different franchises and I was basically falling into the Bangalore catchment area,” Asnodkar said, speaking to RevSportz. “So RCB had the first choice to pick me, but then somehow, I didn’t get any chance in RCB. But one fine evening, I just got a call, asking me if I had signed with any team and if I would like to be part of the Rajasthan Royals team. That was a big surprise for me. I straightaway gave them the confirmation, saying that I have not signed up with any team, and I would definitely love to be a part of the Rajasthan Royals team.”
He had to wait his turn, warming the bench for the first five matches. When the opportunity came, he grabbed it with both hands. “Actually, we had a small camp before the tournament began,” Asnodkar recounted. “And there, fortunately, I had done well. I had done well in match simulations. Also, we had one practice match where I scored 47. So (Shane) Warne was very happy the way I went about and he had told me from the beginning, once the squad was shortlisted, ‘you have to prepare yourself really well. I will throw you in anytime’. The right thing happened at the right time.”
Warne was a legend and a larger-than-life figure. It wasn’t easy for an uncapped Indian player to walk up to him for a conversation.
“As I said, we had a small camp prior to the tournament, and the first interaction with Warne was like, we all introduced ourselves as the Indian players, basically uncapped Indian players,” said Asnodkar. “The moment my turn came, I said I’m from Goa. He had a big smile on his face and he was like, ‘oh, the land of beaches’. Warne, along with our coach, Darren Barry, had named me ‘Goa Cannon’.”
A lowdown on Warne’s man-management followed. “Warnie never made us feel that we were domestic players. He treated everyone equally.”
The inaugural edition was the only time when the IPL had Pakistan players. Royals had Sohail Tanvir, Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal. How did they mix with the Indian boys?
“They were as good as all the other international players. They really gelled well,” said Asnodkar, adding: “We had a good time with them. Lots to learn from them. And obviously, the understanding was really good at that time, back then. And that’s the reason I said we gelled really well as a team. The outcome was we went on to win the championship.”
Circa 2008 gave Asnodkar the base to aim higher. Unfortunately, he couldn’t build on it. Injuries were a reason. Also, next year, when the IPL moved to South Africa due to the general elections in the country, he struggled to cope with the extra bounce. At 41, he is a coach now, but calling him the predecessor to the likes of Abhishek Sharma, openers who set the stands on fire these days, won’t be an exaggeration. Asnodkar resorted to modesty.
“I had my own brand of cricket,” he said. “Well, Abhishek Sharma, the kind of explosive batting; what he does at the moment is unbelievable. It’s really nice to see. He is taking on the bowlers at will. Yes, the game has changed a long way.”
As he signed off, Asnodkar recollected his favourite IPL memory. “We had a doll called Pinky. It was a pink doll, a big doll. So it was like the guy who erred on the disciplinary side had to carry it for 24 hours wherever he went. So that was a very funny thing for us. But at the same time, it was embarrassing to carry the doll wherever you went. This was brought by Warnie. I can proudly say that I never got that doll.”
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