'Not a luxury, but a necessity'

The PSV Eindhoven-Athens FC game is playing in Deep Dasgupta's hotel room in Chennai, a day before his departure with the Indian team for Australia. Dasgupta sneaks a peek at the screen every time a roar breaks out, but if one were to take his subsequent statements on cricket a touch too literally, he would probably rather be out there kicking the ball around. "I hate just sitting and watching the game," he said during the course of an exclusive interview with Wisden Cricinfo.

Your selection was rather sudden. Apart from playing against New Zealand for India A at Rajkot, you have not been seen too much, especially in the Challenger Series. Why do you think the selectors have given you this chance?
The main reason I was originally dropped, I believe, was that my wicketkeeping was not up to the mark. I have been keeping well of late in the Ranji Trophy, though, and that may be why I am being tried again. I have never had any problems on the batting front, and my keeping has improved. It is difficult to make a comeback in Indian cricket, and it is nice of the team management, Sourav [Ganguly] and the selectors to give me another chance.

What do you think your strongest suit is as a wicketkeeper-batsman?
My net contribution to the team, with both fielding and batting skills. In today's game, a wicketkeeper-batsman is not a luxury but a necessity. You have to do both well. I think it is an advantage for the team to be able to think of me as a pure batsman, as well as a keeper. When I'm batting, I consider myself a pure batsman; when I'm fielding, I consider myself a pure wicketkeeper. But I've never considered thinking of myself as just an opener. I hate just sitting and watching the game; I would always much rather be out there playing and contributing.

What do you think went wrong with your India stint, particularly towards your last few matches?
To be honest, I don't really want to remember. It is all history now. But I started thinking too much about what people were saying. As a batsman I had no problems, but people were a little too harsh at times on my wicketkeeping.

What did you do in the last domestic season to improve your wicketkeeping skills?
I just went back to the basics and tried to be myself. I talked to some former keepers, and ultimately, instead of incorporating things that don't come naturally to me, I just tried to be myself and enjoy playing the game.

But you didn't actually have too great a season, especially with the bat .
Yes, it wasn't a great season with the bat. But the statistics don't say a lot. In my last 10 Ranji matches, I have received 10 bad decisions. Now, people can't come out and watch all the games to know that, so they have to depend on the statistics. But they don't tell the full story.

What adjustments do you think you'll have to make in Australia?
The bounce plays the most important role, so getting used to that is paramount. But I don't think it is possible to make changes to your game overnight. If you play behind the line, you cannot just start playing beside the line the next day, especially against the Australian bowling, which is the best in the world. You just have to play your natural game.

How do you assess India's chances in Australia?
To be frank, I think we have a very good team. They've done well, but all said and done, we are a good, balanced side. The team is playing well, and the morale is high .

Even after the TVS Cup defeat?
Well, that was one match. In one-day cricket, things swing fast. But we have played well as a unit for some time now, and everyone is psyched about this tour, it's been hyped that much. It is, after all, a series between the top two teams in the world, so it will be a good series.

Samanth Subramanian is sub editor of Wisden Cricinfo.