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Satyam saida promising cricketer from Kanpur, has carved a niche for himself in the competitive world of cricket, not only as a player but also as a close friend of Kuldeep Yadavthe famous Indian spinner. Both athletes were trained by the same coach, Kapil Pandeyand shared countless memories on the cricket field while playing national quality cricket together. Their journey reflects deep camaraderie and mutual respect, with Kuldeep gaining international fame by donning the Indian jersey, while Satyam remains determined to pursue his own cricketing dreams.
As Satyam prepares to take a major step in his career by joining the California Golden Eagles for the USPLhe embodies the spirit of perseverance and dedication that defines aspiring athletes. His experiences alongside Kuldeep offer a unique insight into the challenges and triumphs faced by cricketers in their quest for excellence. In this interview, we discuss Satyam’s journey, his friendship with Kuldeep and his aspirations as he embarks on this exciting new chapter in his cricketing career.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
Q. How did your cricket journey begin growing up with Kuldeep Yadav in Kanpur?
Satyam: So, my journey began with my father who was also a cricketer and shared the dressing room with legendary names like Shashikant Khandekar, Sunil Chaturvedi And Vipin tanks. We are three brothers Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram and we all play cricket. In 2004, my journey to becoming a professional sport began and one of the main reasons is a scene from the Indian triumph at Lord’s where Sourav Ganguly waved his Indian jersey after winning the match. At that time I was in Jammu and after my father retired we came to Kanpur and the first thing we did was join an academy, soon after two months Kuldeep also joined . When I joined the academy, I had the idea of taking up cricket.
Initially Kuldeep wanted to be a fast bowler, he really liked playing fast bowling, but our coach was really aware of all the players, so he convinced Kuldeep to be a Chinese instead of playing medium pace bowling. We both played together in all our levels and domestic cricket and that’s it, he continued to wear the Indian jersey.
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Q. How would you describe your current form and approach to cricket?
Satyam: Well, cricket is something which is not out of a player’s system, and when I talk about myself, nothing is much different here too, I have a job but after my work hour, most of my time is spent training on the field, I even have a practice net installed on the terrace of my house. And if we talk about my form, I feel that I am pretty okay with my form and I want to improve it by training continuously so that I can perform in USPL this year.
Q. When and how did your friendship with Kuldeep Yadav begin?
Satyam: Kuldeep and I became friends very early in our childhood, we both played a tournament where you would be surprised it wasn’t under 16, under 14 but less than 5 feet, so it was a tournament organized by Kanpur Cricket Association where every player was under 5 feet tall, and we 12-13 year old kids could play the tournament taking advantage of our small height and age. It was a tournament where we played for the first time and won it, where we both played well and contributed to the victory, it marked the beginning of our friendship where we became close friends .
Q. How difficult is it for UP players to adapt to the fast pace of cricket?
Satyam: Cricket has certainly changed in terms of gameplay, and there was a time when leaving a good bowl was appreciated but today we can’t afford to play like that. If we look at the players who play for India in T20Is and those who play in ODIs, the playing intent of both teams is quite different, you would see more dynamic shots in T20s as the team designed for different formats by BCCI is quite cleverly designed. Therefore, every player can now choose their own format and adapt accordingly to the new standards of cricket.
Q. How difficult is the journey to becoming a professional cricketer in India?
Satyam: The most populous country in the world where every other kid dreams of becoming a professional cricketer in India, amidst this glitz and glamour, everyone wants to be there as a cricketer,
one thing that also attracts everyone is the financial security it offers and if parents and coaches think their child is good at cricket, they are indeed pushing him. But everything in terms of fairness is great until you perform well and consistently because there are many players to replace you or sometimes they are better than you. So, the journey is quite difficult in India to take up cricket as a profession, but it gradually becomes more difficult if you don’t stay tense. I also advise if anyone young aspires to become a cricketer, go for it, but first sit down and talk to your coach about your potential and gameplay.
