Sunil Joshi - a star at 30

He made his international debut in 1996, but through nearly 3-1/2 years, even while India played a number of Tests and one day internationals, Sunil Bandacharya Joshi never really consolidated his place in the side. Anil Kumble was the kingpin of the spin attack, and the other spinners in his shadow were players like Rajesh Chauhan, Nilesh Kulkarni, Venkatpathi Raju, Narendra Hirwani and Aashish Kapoor. Despite the fact that Joshi was a better batsman than any of the other spinners around, he was more out than in the team. Joshi has played just ten Tests and the LG Cup game against South Africa at Nairobi was only his 46th one day international. Patience however has its virtues and with his incredible bag of five for six off ten overs on Sunday, Joshi might just have clinched a regular place in the side from now on.

He did everything right. Indeed, it was one of those spells which every cricketer dreams of bowling. He troubled the renowned batsmen with his sinuous flight, mesmerized them with his prodigious spin and even such accomplished players like Kallis, Cronje, Rhodes, Gibbs and Klusener could not take any liberties with him, such being his impeccable line and length. By any yardstick, it was one of the finest exhibitions of left arm spin bowling in one day cricket. Figures of 10-6-6-5 are not achieved every day and certainly not against a side like South Africa. Bishen Bedi achieved figures of 12-8-6-1 in the inaugural World Cup in 1975 but that was against minnows East Africa. Indeed only Kumble with figures of six for 12 against West Indies in the Hero Cup final at Calcutta in 1993 has bettered Joshi's figures among Indian bowlers.

Joshi is one of those cricketers who is not as talented as he is hard working. He has come up the hard way in a star studded Karnataka side which at one time was responsible for virtually providing the entire bowling line up in the national team with players like Srinath, Prasad, Ganesh, Johnson, Kumble and Joshi around. He was 27 when he forced his way into the Indian side, on the strength of some brilliant all round performances around the domestic circuit - notably his double of 500 runs and 50 wickets in Karnataka's title triumph in the Ranji Trophy in 1995-96, the only player to have achieved this feat. The transition from national to international cricket was not immediately successful and the critics dismissed the left handed all rounder with the remark that he was ``good for Karnataka, not for India.''

Such remarks must have been galling for this stout hearted cricketer, who had the required skills to achieve his dream of making it big in Indian cricket. But like many others, he remained in the shadow of his more illustrious state captain Kumble. Moreover with the accent on seam bowling, sometimes there was no place in the side for a second specialist spinner.

The heartening aspects of Joshi's cricket have been his never say die attitude and his unassuming manner. Never one to give up easily and always open to suggestions, he sought the advice of master spinner Bishen Bedi a few months ago. According to Joshi, Bedi gave him some very valuable tips during the one month he spent with him. But then getting advice and putting the same into practice are two very different things. Joshi worked hard on the art of varying his spin, on completing the loop and arc in his action correctly, and as he has said, he could feel the difference when he got back into the Indian team in Singapore last month. Since then he has been an integral part of the Indian attack, blending well with Nikhil Chopra. And with Kumble bound to return the trio could form the dream spin attack of a leg spinner, an off spinner and a left arm spinner and may well herald a return to the glorious tradition of Indian spin bowling.

Joshi is also an accomplished left handed batsman and is a genuine all rounder in domestic cricket. He has not been able to demonstrate his batting skills at the international level but now and then has come up with timely knocks in the late order which has helped the team in both Tests and one day internationals. At Singapore he displayed his prowess by hitting two successive sixes in the last over of the innings. But it is as a bowler that Joshi will have the spotlight turned on him, especially in the wake of his performance at Nairobi on Sunday. Suddenly at 30, the polite and unassuming Gadag born cricketer finds himself a star. He has the skill and attitude to quickly make the transition to superstar.