Dude, where's my bike?
Stock the fridge with milk, fill up the fuel tank and give it up for India's captain
S Aga
15-Jun-2009
© Ashish Padlekar
Aka
Captain Cool (with apologies to Chris Gayle)
Captain Cool (with apologies to Chris Gayle)
In a nutshell
Unfettered, long-haired, milk-drinking, bike-riding, small-town football goalie turned wicketkeeper-axeman turned short-haired, unflappable captain-cum-finisher. With Z class security.
Unfettered, long-haired, milk-drinking, bike-riding, small-town football goalie turned wicketkeeper-axeman turned short-haired, unflappable captain-cum-finisher. With Z class security.
Exactly how cool is he?
How many other cricketers do you know who have a posse of lady bodyguards to keep the female admirers at bay?
How many other cricketers do you know who have a posse of lady bodyguards to keep the female admirers at bay?
So he's much in demand?
He was mobbed by a crowd of hundreds when he went for a haircut once.
He was mobbed by a crowd of hundreds when he went for a haircut once.
How much in demand did you say?
He once had to meet a bunch of old friends in a rail yard and have a meal with them in a train parked there.
He once had to meet a bunch of old friends in a rail yard and have a meal with them in a train parked there.
Key achievement
Being irritatingly composed at moments of intense stress on the field.
Being irritatingly composed at moments of intense stress on the field.
Likes
Guns, bikes, first-person shooter games.
Guns, bikes, first-person shooter games.
Likes to read
Books on guns and bikes.
Books on guns and bikes.
Does not like
Having temples built in his honour.
Having temples built in his honour.
Early misdemeanours
Modelling himself on the various kids in TV ads who make a career out of breaking windows by sending cricket balls through them.
Turning up on TV in a bathtub in an ad for Mysore Sandalwood soap.
Modelling himself on the various kids in TV ads who make a career out of breaking windows by sending cricket balls through them.
Turning up on TV in a bathtub in an ad for Mysore Sandalwood soap.
Enduring legacy
The scissor shot, a vicious swipe played with both feet off the ground and crossed.
The scissor shot, a vicious swipe played with both feet off the ground and crossed.
Acclaimed left-field move I
Getting Joginder Sharma to bowl crucial death overs in Twenty20s.
Getting Joginder Sharma to bowl crucial death overs in Twenty20s.
Acclaimed left-field move II
Deciding to get a bachelor's in commerce at St Xavier's in Patna (leading excited female students to shriek, "But how will we study with him here?") and then not turning up for classes.
Deciding to get a bachelor's in commerce at St Xavier's in Patna (leading excited female students to shriek, "But how will we study with him here?") and then not turning up for classes.
Little-known talent
An accomplished speaker of Japanese, he can deliver the phrase "Suzuki Hayabusa" in a flawless accent.
An accomplished speaker of Japanese, he can deliver the phrase "Suzuki Hayabusa" in a flawless accent.
Favourite phrase
"Of course". Obviously.
"Of course". Obviously.
Favourite gardening implement
The shovel.
The shovel.
Favourite smell
Gasoline in the morning.
Gasoline in the morning.
Most likely to turn up in/on
A "Got Milk?" ad.
An ad, any ad.
An Ed Hardy t-shirt and Oakleys.
A Harley.
A "Got Milk?" ad.
An ad, any ad.
An Ed Hardy t-shirt and Oakleys.
A Harley.
Least likely to turn up in/at
An all-time elegant players XI.
Government awards ceremonies.
An all-time elegant players XI.
Government awards ceremonies.
Did you know?
He once bought 10 pairs of RM Williams boots in Australia.
He once bought 10 pairs of RM Williams boots in Australia.
Most likely profession if he hadn't made it in cricket
Machete-wielding, boot-wearing, undergrowth-clearing expert on jungle expeditions.
Machete-wielding, boot-wearing, undergrowth-clearing expert on jungle expeditions.
Future careers
Spokesman for the automotive industry, public speaker on the harmful effects of calcium deficiency in children.
Spokesman for the automotive industry, public speaker on the harmful effects of calcium deficiency in children.
Fictional character he used to be a dead ringer for, with his milk-drinking, hard-hitting ways
The Phantom
The Phantom
Fictional character he's a dead ringer for, now that he seems to have lost his attacking mojo
Samson
Samson