From tent to Trident: Salman’s journey as a CSK web bowler

“Yeh dekho swimming pool. Ek dum Maldives jaisa hai (See the swimming pool. It’s just like in the Maldives).”

Salman Khan, 22, gives a digital tour of his posh lodge to his household, who stay in a small tent at Mumbai’s Cross Maidan, the place his father works as a groundsman. On regular cricketing afternoons, the tent works as a dressing room for cricket groups.

Barring his father Idris, none of his relations knew the place Maldives is and why it’s well-known. But since being roped in by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a web bowler for the continuing Indian Premier League season, Salman has been dwelling the excessive life, even when on a brief foundation.

He says his conversations again house are uncommon as of late. His father not solely asks him about what occurred on the nets, but in addition concerning the lodge he’s stationed in. Whether he met Mahendra Singh Dhoni and what did he inform him.

The iconic lodge at Nariman Point has been a landmark for Mumbaikars and Salman hadn’t seen it from inside, till CSK occurred.

Over the years, his father has rolled pitches and seen many boys changing into stars in a single day and now the household hopes that Salman can change the fortunes of the household.

Salman Khan’s house in Cross maidan. (Express Photo)

“One day, I got a call from a Chennai Super Kings official asking me whether I can join as a net bowler for this season. Later, I got to know my name was recommended by (Mumbai player) Tushar Deshpande. I was excited because I will get a chance to learn, otherwise I would be just playing club cricket,” Salman mentioned over cellphone.

CSK have been the pioneers in serving to web bowlers make the transition to changing into IPL gamers. Two present gamers of the franchise – Mukesh Choudhary and Prashant Solanki – had been web bowlers for them until final season, earlier than being roped in at this 12 months’s mega public sale.

Salman hopes the identical can occur for him. His father all the time has one line to finish his conversations. “Abu phone karke bolta hai achcha kar, tera acha hoga, toh hamara bhi hoga. Bowling mein khush kar dena (Whenever my father calls, he tells me to do well, so that something good will happen to them in the future. Make everyone happy through your bowling). I only say I will try my best,” Salman, who has represented Mumbai in under-23 and junior cricket, says.

Equal therapy

The rays of the floodlights and the loud cheering on the Wankhede Stadium reaches Salman’s house. He has been sending pics of him with Dhoni and different gamers. Salman did stumble upon Dhoni and CSK captain Ravindra Jadeja, and requested them about his bowling. It took a while to achieve Dhoni’s confidence however, Salman says, at CSK everyone seems to be equal.

Salman Khan’s house in Cross maidan. (Express Photo)

“I spoke to Mahi bhai and Jadeja. I want to learn from them, these two months might change my life. I asked Mahi bhai about my bowling. He said, ‘Salman, off-spinner ko T20 mein sab maarne hi dekhte hai, so thoda dimag se dalne ka, jyada sochne ka (in T20s, everyone tries to hit the off-spinner, so put some thought behind your bowling). He said he will speak to me after a few games. The franchise is treating us like everyone else. We are getting the same treatment like everyone else. The environment is superb.”

Back at Cross Maidan, Idris is blissful that his son has obtained a giant push. In his 4 many years as a groundsman, he has seen Sachin changing into Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan changing into India’s deadly tempo bowler.

“I’m very happy for him. I’m a small man. I just want him to do well in life. In 40 years as a groundsman, I have seen people becoming stars, I just want my son to play good cricket aur apne paon pe khada ho jaye bus (and stand on his own feet),” Idris hopes.

From Tent to Trident Hotel, Salman will now hope life modifications for him from right here on.