I Don't Feel I'm Too Old: Pravin Tambe

At 42, Pravin Tambe has earned his maiden call-up for Mumbai against Jharkhand starting from December 6-9. After carving a niche for himself in the Champions League Twenty 20 (CLT20) 2013, the leg-spinner has been impressive in the on-going Kanga League for DY Patil Academy, recording four five-fors. Tambe spoke to Sarang Bhalerao after his inclusion in the Mumbai squad.

When did you come to know about your selection in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad?

I was in the office when I got a call from Abey [Kuruvilla] sir at around 2:30 pm. He congratulated me. I thanked him and assumed that he wished me for the five-wicket haul that I had taken in the Kanga League game against Shivaji Park Gymkhana on Sunday. He asked me: ¡®Do you know the reason why I am congratulating you?¡¯That¡¯s when he told me about my selection in the Ranji Trophy squad.

How did you feel after listening about it?

I didn¡¯t know how to react. For about 2 to 3 seconds, I was numb. When the feeling sunk in, I was satisfied that all the hard work that I had put over the years finally paid off.

Whom did you call first?

I tried calling my mother but couldn¡¯t reach out to her. Then I called my wife and told her the good news.

How much has family support helped you?

I thank my family for all their support and sacrifices. But for their blessings I wouldn¡¯t have played cricket.

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Getting selected in the Mumbai team at 42 is an inspiring story but do you honestly believe you got your due a bit late?

I honestly do not think about the age. Yes I am 42 but I do not feel that I am too old or anything like that. I enjoy playing the game. It gives me immense joy. So I was just playing for the love of the game.

You have been in tremendous form post Champions League Twenty 20. You have been performing well for DY Patil Sports Academy in the Kanga League. Didn¡¯t you ever think I might get a Mumbai call-up?

No. My role was just to keep performing and not worrying about the selection. I got three six-fors and a five wicket haul yesterday (on Sunday) in this year¡¯s Kanga League. So I am in form, picking up wickets and that has got me in the Mumbai squad.

The Mumbai bowling is relatively inexperienced after Zaheer Khan has gone for the South Africa tour and Dhawal Kulkarni injured. Do you think you might feature against Jharkhand considering you are an attacking leg-spinner?

The team is doing very well. Whether or not I¡¯ll feature in the playing XI is a different issue but being in the Mumbai dressing room is a great honour for me. I will get to learn a lot. If I feature in the playing XI my plan will be simple: to bowl a good line and length.

Any plans to celebrate with the family later tonight?

My wife and daughter are unwell. If they get well by tomorrow we will go out for dinner.