PART 1—World Cup Players Series with Prannav Chettipalayam

TRANSCRIPT

Ashwath: You're listening to Between the Wickets. 

Welcome to a special edition of Between the Wickets. In this three part episode, we're diving deep into the world of U19 cricket with three talented players who represented the USA in the ICC U19 World Cup. In this series, I'll be sitting down with Pranav, Sid, and Arya for three one on one conversations.

Pranav, first, congratulations on representing the country in the ICC U19 World Cup, and  for receiving the best batsman award in the ICC qualifiers.  

Why don't you start by talking a little bit about your experiences throughout the whole process of being a part of the USA U19 team.  

Prannav: Thank you, Ashwa, for having me.

I think it was a  really good experience. Definitely coming from an associated country to play in, you know, one of the highest level of cricket for youth in the whole world. So, definitely a lot of learnings working with world class coaches, you know, other of my teammates. And, you know, definitely competing against the world's best. 

Ashwath: How did the coaching staff really support and guide the team throughout the tournament? 

Prannav: I think definitely our coaching staff knew a lot of us from before from other various youth tournaments. So,  it wasn't like we were put with the coach that we didn't know.

So I think that was a good thing that the coaches knew us. And I think the coaches definitely did their part, definitely kept us on our toes, on the field, off the field. 

I think they definitely did play a big role, especially in those qualifiers and as well in the World Cup.

Ashwath: So when you were playing these games, was there any aspect of added pressure because of the name of the World Cup and then obviously playing international teams that you've seen on TV? 

Prannav: I think, you know, definitely there's a little bit of nerves, you know, especially playing those big countries such as India and Bangladesh.

But personally, I just wanted to just go and have fun, you know, you might probably, uh, won't get another opportunity like this to represent my country in a global stage. So, you know, I just wanted to make the most of it and, you know, just enjoy my time there and then at the same time try to put up a good show as well. 

Ashwath: We'll get into like practice a little bit for batting, but was there any way that you prepared mentally for like these big World Cup games?  

Prannav: I definitely did do some like mental strength sessions before going to the qualifier and the World Cup, you know, just making sure my mind was in the right space, you know?

And to make sure that I wasn't really thinking about too many added things, uh, you know, especially playing, uh, those qualifiers and World Cup. So I think I definitely did do some mental strength training.  

Ashwath: I know a couple seasons ago, you batted like sort of in a different way. I know you kind of switched and became more positive, a little bit more attacking.

How did the switch really come about and how are you able to practice in a way to really implement it in games?  

Prannav: You know, I'd say, I think about three years ago, you know, uh, I used to bat a little differently than how I do now. And I think a lot of it, like the change, you know, really came from, you know, really analyzing my own game.

Seeing the way I practice and the way I played in games was completely different. In practice, I would be fearless, you know, playing all my shots, but in games, I'll be a little bit less risk taking. But I figured out that if I'm successful in practice, you know, hitting those shots, playing fearlessly, you know, I should be doing that in games as well.

So once I started implementing that in games, I think I definitely saw a change in my batting. But I think, again, you know, it's important to find balance. You know, you can play positively, but at the day, you still have to score runs. So I think about finding that balance between playing positive, but also, you know, batting for 50, 60, 70 balls for your innings.

Ashwath: So is there like a way you change that at all in practice before taking it to games or where you just bring whatever you are already doing in practice to the games?

Prannav: Yeah, I think a lot of it was bringing what I was doing to practice to games. I think in games I was taking a little bit more added pressure, even if it was just like a club game or a, you know, youth tournament.

But I think it was mainly just taking what I'm already doing in practice over to the games. 

Ashwath: Then talking a little bit more about practice. I know like a lot of people who spend like hours in the nets, they're constantly doing drills, you know, practicing, whatever. But then when they go to the match, it doesn't really correlate. Like they'll get out earlier. Is there a way that you suggest practicing in the nets that can help fix that issue, specifically? 

Prannav: I think practice, you know, definitely differs from person to person. You know, some people, you know, need to play a lot of balls before a game. And then, you know, some people just need to feel a couple balls. So I think for me, the main thing about practice isn't really about the amount of balls I play, but it's more of how I feel.

So, you know, some days I'll be in the nets for two, three hours just to make sure I'm getting that feel. But once, if I get that feel immediately, you know, I'm not really in the nets for that long. But I think the important thing is to, you know, keep doing it over and over again. So I think, you know, definitely practicing every day, day in, day out, you know, once, twice a day.

But I think the main thing is that after I end every session, you know, I should have like a feeling that, you know, you know, I was hitting the ball well. So I think that's like the biggest thing for me. 

Ashwath: Is there anything you do like after the session, like writing down anything right after you practice?

Or is it mostly the mental, like learning from what you did last time?  

Prannav: After practice, I'm not really a big writer after, but definitely after games, you know, I'm always analyzing. I'm like talking to a coach, you know, no matter how much I score in a game, you know, the next day, you know, I'm always messaging the coach or  And you're just talking about, you know, like what I think I did good, what I think I, you know, I need to improve on.

Analysis, at least for me, comes, uh, more after games. 

Ashwath: I  mean, obviously we're talking about practice so much. I know you've been playing since like a very long time, very young age. And that's throughout middle school, high school. So how did you really find that balance between practicing, but then obviously a lot of us have school commitments as well, like you have to study for a test or something. Maybe you have a game on the weekend, but you also have to study. So how did you find that right balance between school, especially in high school, it gets much harder, obviously still practicing cricket and playing all these games.  

Prannav: You know, I didn't really find it too difficult, you know, definitely to balance my time.

But I think that the biggest thing for me was that I always enjoyed practice. Like, it was never something that, you know, it was like a burden to me. Like, you know, I got home and I'm like," Oh, man, I have practice today." It was more like, "Oh, I want to practice today." So I think the biggest thing is that I feel like we have a lot of young cricketers really enjoy practice and like have that like fire in them to like want to practice every day.

I think that it'll help a lot in time management, like they'll make some changes, you know, change up their schedule a little bit just in order to get a practice session in. So I think that was the biggest thing for me.  

Ashwath: I know the World Cup, you had like so many games against like big teams. And then also in the qualifiers, you guys played like Canada and other countries like that.

Do you have any, like, experiences or any funny moments, not, it doesn't have to be funny, but anything that you think was, like, really interesting, maybe about another team or, like, about your team interacting with others, or was there, like, any player that you found pretty interesting, like, the way they go about their work? 

Prannav: I think the biggest thing was definitely when we're playing against India. You know, I got out early that game, so I was just trying to see, you know, how they were in the field. And I think the biggest thing was, a lot of times here, especially our bowlers, fast bowlers, you know, their mark is around near the 30 yard circle.

But, you know, they're coming from fine legs, so they have to walk all the way to the pitch, you know, hand their cap to the umpire, and then walk all the way back. But what India would do is that's the slip cordon on the other side. So this, one of the slips would run all the way to fine leg, like on the other side, get their hat, and then they would come to slip.

But before coming to slip, they would give their cap to the umpire, and then come to slip. So the bowler would just have to walk from fine leg to their mark. So, you know, those are small things. 

And then those fielders at fine leg, third man, you know, those might not be like the important positions, like at least in America, you know, we tend to think the important positions like extra covers, mid wicket, long out.

But even those fielders at third man, fine leg, As soon as they see the bat, like, the batsman, like, you know, breaking their wrist, they're already moving three steps to their left and, you know, cutting down singles. So those small things, I think we were just mind blown.  I guess that's what makes a professional team and makes professional players. 

Ashwath: Were there any players that you, maybe you're playing India or Bangladesh or something, was there any player that you just, like, kind of sat back and said, like, "Wow, how are they going about their batting like this or their bowling or even their fielding?" Was there anybody that stood out to you?  

Prannav: I think someone that stood out to me was, you know, You know, definitely Mushir Khan, you know, the way he played the sweep shot, you know, we had a good set of spinners on our team as well.

And, you know, he was playing the sweep from fine leg all the way through cow corner. So, I think definitely after seeing him play the sweep shot so consistently, kind of made me, you know, like think like, wow, that's a sweep shot. It's such a good shot. Like he would sweep the square leg, you know, mid wicket, he would move a couple of steps square.

Then he would get like out to the line of the ball, sweep in front of square, get two more. And it's not even just getting a boundary, it's just getting doubles, doubles, and, you know, just keeping the scoreboard ticking. 

When I went to practice after the World Cup, you know, I really made it, like, an importance to practice a sweep.You know, just seeing after, like, how effective it was for him. 

Ashwath: So obviously you guys did play for USA, and then a couple months later, we have the World Cup here, hosted in the U. S. And then last year we had Major League and this year again the second edition of Major League happened. All of this is bringing cricket to the forefront of America. What do you think this really brings to USA Cricket and what's your perspective on USA Cricket right now? 

Prannav: I think you know definitely it's good for USA Cricket. You know, more people know about the sport. You know, I think the biggest thing for me was seeing, like, you know, scrolling on Instagram and seeing channels like Bleacher Report and ESPN, you know, posting about cricket, which are, you know, predominantly like football, soccer, basketball type social media channels.

So seeing them post about cricket, you know, was really, you know, really nice to see. So I think it's good that, you know, it's getting more popularity. And I guess just in more time, you know, we'll see cricket, you know, come up in college, you know, more stadiums come up, more, more local teams come up as well.

Ashwath: For Major League specifically, is there anything you think that really brings that's really like interesting, that is different to maybe like playing a World Cup? 

Prannav: Yeah, so definitely, I think when the US players, you know, were able to be part of Major League squads, you know, just to be able to play on the same team as you know, some world class players, I think it's just a different feeling.

And especially the amount of youths that played. You know, there were almost like, I think, almost eight under 23 players that were part of major league squad. So, you know, just being able to rub shoulders with some of the best, you know, just picking up on those little things. Because I think, you know, after an age, like after 19/20, you know, the skill set is usually the same among all the players, but it's just those small things, you know, that make a legend, a legend, and then just a good player, a good player. 

Ashwath: Obviously, you're kind of in that stage now, you have minor league, I bet you're aspiring for major league and U. S. A. as well. 

How are you preparing yourself to be able to play, you know, on one hand, you have major league, which is a T20 league. And then USA, which also does play some 50 over games. So how are you preparing yourself to be able to play in the league and for USA nationally?

Prannav: Yeah. You know, I think again, it's just a continuous practice. The biggest thing is, you know, just keep hitting balls, keep hitting balls.  I think the eventual goals would be to play for the men's USA team and as well as play in major league. And those are, you know, a 50 over and a 20 over competition. But I think, at least for me, I think the, when you like break the game down, like between batting in a 50 over game and batting in a 20 over game, it's pretty much the same.

So I don't think it's too big of a difference or my technique or my mindset needs to change at all. I'm mostly like, when you break it down, it's still the same game. So I think, I don't think it's too big of a difference practicing for either. 

Ashwath: So you said like between 20 and 50 overs you kind of go about it the same.

Is there a way that you differ maybe if you're going, I know you predominantly go open, but sometimes maybe if you're in a different team, some teams like maybe they already have two set openers. Is there a way that you would change how you go about your innings if maybe you're like two down, three down? 

Prannav: Yeah, you know, definitely. I think your approach and mindset definitely has to change, you know, to the game. Like, If I have a game tomorrow, the mindset that, you know, I'm thinking about and getting ready for is probably not going to be the same as when I, you know, walk out to bat. So I think the biggest thing is being able to adapt according to the pitch, according to the team, you know, the situation.

So I think. The biggest thing is being able to adapt but always having like a general plan like in the back of your mind.  

Ashwath:  For, like, let's say you're opening the batting, right? I know some people like to take their time early, maybe leave a couple, get their eye in. Some people just try to like look for boundaries early to get them set.

What's your way of going about opening and innings? Are you looking for those early boundaries? Are you trying to just rotate a bit in the beginning and then see where that takes you? What's your mindset when you open? 

Prannav: Yeah, I think, you know, everyone, you know, wants to get like, two, three boundaries in the first 10 balls while opening, you know, then they're, you know, they feel pretty set.

But I think the biggest thing for me is, you know, definitely not to think too much while batting, not just going without a plan, but obviously having a plan, but. You know, not thinking too much, you know, I feel like I'm at best, you know, when I'm not trying to force anything, when I'm just trying to play the ball, you know, just let the boundaries come, you know, automatically.

So I think, you know, that's when I play my best cricket. 

Ashwath: Do you like to like target certain bowlers? Like if you see like a left arm off spinner, maybe like even right arm pacer versus left arm pacer. Does that also factor into the way you go about your innings? Like, "Oh, he's gonna bowl later so I can take him on." Is there anything like that? 

Prannav: I think, you know, uh, definitely in T20 cricket, you know, that's definitely there. If you're struggling against this particular type of bowler, you know, they're only gonna bowl maybe a 2/3 overspill max. Like, obviously, there's gonna be at least one bowler that, you know, you're gonna like, you know, later on in the innings, whether that's, you know, an over from now or a couple overs from now.

So, I think the biggest thing. Is, you know, understanding that, you know, you could definitely have more success, especially in T20.  

Ashwath: Like, obviously we talked about how you view USA today with all the World Cup, Major League stuff. How do you think USA cricket is going to evolve in the future over the next couple years, maybe even over the next decade? Where do you see USA cricket going?  

Prannav: I think in 10 years, I see, you know, definitely a good domestic structure, you know, they've had some national tournaments, but I think the biggest thing in order to keep getting the best pool of players for every series or tournament that they play is to have a good domestic structure.

So in 10 years, I'd see like a good zonal competition that, you know, is going on for a long period of time. You know, I think that would be one of the biggest things in order to. Always make sure that the best pool of talent is always playing in all these important games, you know, whether it's T20 World Cup, you know, 50 overs qualifiers. 

Ashwath: And then lastly, I know right now preparations, there's U19 for the next cycle coming up. Obviously you can't play anymore, but what advice do you have to those young aspiring cricketers who dream of playing in the U19 World Cup like you did? Is there a process you think they should stick to following? 

Prannav: The biggest thing is, I would say, would just be to play without any pressure. But, you know, obviously that's easier said than done. You know, this is a dream for everyone. You know, all of these young cricketers representing the country in a global stage. I think the biggest thing would definitely just to be to at least for the batsmen, you know, to just to give themselves a chance.

You know, I know it'll be a little bit nerve wracking, you know, knowing that, you know, if I don't make runs, you know, I might not get picked. So I think the biggest thing would just to be a, for all the batsmen, just to give themselves a chance. And I think for the bowlers, you know, just, um, just to go back to basics.

A lot of bowlers feel like they need to take five wickets, you know, in order to get picked. But you know, the truth is that. If you're bowling well, I think that's all the selectors need to know. So I think the biggest thing would is to be to, you know, not look for wickets, but just to do what you're doing best. 

Ashwath: You have any advice for like wicket keepers who like how they can make themselves stand out? Cause obviously I know you do keep. 

Prannav: Yeah. So I think the biggest thing is, you know, take all your catches, you know, do that stuff. But I think the biggest thing is to bring the energy. Selectors, you know, look for those small things, you know, like how a wicket keeper, you know, can bring a team back. Or if a team is losing, the fielding team is losing, you know, not in a good position. Yeah. You know, how a wicketkeeper is able to, you know, regain the energy, you know, spark something into the fielding team. 

Ashwath: Thank you so much for your time, Pranav, and again, congratulations on the U19 World Cup and then obviously best baseman in the qualifiers and I wish you the best for the future.

Prannav: Thank you.