Jagadeesan and Shahrukh open up about challenges

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Super Gillies, led by Jagadeesan, are coming off a win over table topper Panthers. | Photo Credit: R. RAGU

As seasoned Tamil Nadu cricketers, N. Jagadeesan and Shahrukh Khan have weathered the full spectrum of the sport’s highs and lows.

Ahead of their Tuesday’s TNPL match, the Chepauk Super Gillies skipper and his Vida Kovai Kings counterpart gave elaborate and veracious answers to the challenges in their roles and careers.

Commenting on his role as a finisher, Shahrukh said: “I am 31 now. And as a batter, when I was in my mid-20s, it [reflecting on his innings] felt completely different. But that’s the sport. No matter how set you are, it’s just a one-ball game… some days it comes off, and some days it doesn’t.”

Shahrukh touched upon the accolades and criticisms that come with being a middle-order batter.

“The toughest job is to play down the order. On days you do well, you are applauded more than anybody else. But on days when you don’t do well, you are put down more than anyone.”

On how he handles failures, Shahrukh added: “As a finisher, I need to have a good relationship with myself. Because no matter what, the most important thing is how you feel about yourself.”

Jagadeesan gave his perspective on life as a cricketer, and more specifically the nuances in shifting approaches in different formats.

“To put that in simple terms, I am okay to accept failure. The moment I’m not able to accept failure, it becomes very difficult to express myself. In this format, there could be a lot of failures, and that’s one thing that I’ve [told myself],” he said.

“The relationship with failure comes from the love for the game. I started playing because I love the sport… and as you go on this professional journey, you stop enjoying the sport as it is, thinking about your selections and whatnot. In the end, it is just about you having faith in yourself”.

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