Smart Talk: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ian Chappell, Gautam Gambhir (Humor)

What he said:

"Been called into meetings everyday, or every other day, spending hours answering questions. You never leave a meeting until they get whatever answer they want. That is what I’ve been going through. When you batting there are messages coming to you telling you how to bat, it happens until you get out, you know."

Shivnarine Chanderpaul on how he was forced to play for the past year by the current West Indian management.

What he meant:

“Don’t disturb me, I’m batting. Let me focus. I’ve been doing this for 17 years. How many years have you put in?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m a multi-tasker. I love being on call in the middle.”

“OK, you asked me to dance. I did. Now you want me to sing? No, what, a switch hit, is it?”

“Telling me what to do out in the middle? Isn’t that what got Aamir and his pals into trouble? It’s OK if it’s the WICB?”

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What she said:

"Yes, but his role in the management and in the IPL team are two very different things."

Dona Ganguly, defending her husband Saurav representing the Pune Warriors franchise owned by Sahara Adventure Sports, in which he is on the board of  directors.

What she meant:

“He (Saurav) can’t play cricket in board meetings, can he?”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Do you think Subrata Roy can play cricket as well as Saurav?”

“No, I don’t think Dada would have been chosen had he been an outsider.”

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What he said:

"I always believed that there were never great captains and there will be no great captains. There are only great teams. No captain can win you the game. It is the team that wins the game.”

Gautam Gambhir on his captaincy stint with Kolkatta Knight Riders.

What he meant:

“The team makes me.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I bet you a hundred bucks that Ganguly would win with this team.”

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What he said:

“The way I look at it, there are no holidays in cricket. I never stop training … rain or shine, I’m playing cricket.”

Devendra Bishoo, the West Indian leggie of South Asian origin talks about his passion for the game.

What he meant:

“Hell, man, I’ve got nothing better to do. You want to bat out a few overs? I’ll bowl.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Holiday, Holiday! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Holiday, Holiday!”

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What he said:

“So the message is clear to cricketers: enjoy the high wages for short games because soon “value for money” will become the owners’ catch-cry.”

Ian Chappell, writing on how IPL owners will soon seek value for their dollars from players.

What he meant:

“The IPL is a business and it makes no sense for owners to pay players wages they can’t afford and that might lead them to bankruptcy.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Current players shouldn’t care; that’s for NexGen to worry about.Take your money and run.”

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When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice. - Marquis de la Grange