He has been one of the biggest success stories of the Pepsi Indian Premier League. He is a prime example of the saying ‘age is just a number’. Since his induction into the Rajasthan Royals setup, Pravin Tambe’s career graph has only been on a rise. His performance has been such that he has not only grown to become one of the Royals’ bowling mainstays but has also earned himself a Mumbai Ranji Trophy cap. He is loved in the Royals setup; even the cricketing grapevine has only praise and good things to say about him when talks lead to commitment and fairytale stories. He is the eldest in the group but has a childish grin the moment he gets the better of the batsmen. For Tambe it is a kind of reassurance of his ability and his craft at which he looks to excel with each passing game. Thursday night against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, was no different.

Tambe bowled his quota of four overs giving away just 21 runs and picking up two wickets. His first victim was Naman Ojha who was castled by a peach of a leg-spinner and the jubilation to follow was there to be seen. “To see the ball turn like that was a joy to watch as a bowler,” Tamble explained smiling from ear to ear. “When I came to bowl, I knew he would attack me. When I started bowling I saw that the ball was turning a bit. That very moment I thought I would try and get him by turning the ball from the leg-stump. The wicket delivery hit the right length and got the right amount of turn. Ojha was not playing well off his pads and that is the reason I pitched it outside the leg-stump and the plan worked.”

Obviously a lot of thought and meticulous planning has gone into his bowling. Take this instance as he talks about his dismissal of Eoin Morgan. “Morgan was getting in the flow slowly and we all know how dangerous he can be once he gets going. The delivery before I got him, I tried to deceive him and play with his mind by bowling a googly to him. He stepped out and was beaten. As a bowler I notice the batsmen’s feet movement. The next delivery, I saw his feet and got an intuition that he would play across the line. He had tried reverse sweeping previously as well and I pitched it just a tad faster. He fell for it and was trapped in front. Once I stopped getting assistance from the pitch, I had to look to contain runs.”

Tambe credits his bowling success to a decent domestic season. “My form in the recent domestic season has been great. I played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy competition recently and picked up wickets frequently. It is in this domestic season that I have played the maximum amount of cricket compared to the rest of the years.” Having said that, Tambe has played just two First-class games for Mumbai till date, since making his First-class debut back in 2013.

When asked if it bothers him that he could have played a lot more First-class games to hone his skills, Tambe replied, “I have no regrets about playing less First-class games. Whatever cricket I have played so far, I have only enjoyed the process and the results that come along with it. I am playing with the same intensity since the time I first started bowling. I never think about lost opportunities or what I could have been. I am in a phase were I am just enjoying the game and will only look to enjoy till the time I have a ball in my hand.”

Tambe is playing the bulk of his cricket in the T20 format. With age fast catching up and the needs of the game getting more physically demanding, Tambe is leaving no stone unturned to be fit and raring to go each time the situation arises. “I have worked a lot on my fitness. I know I am 43 and I need to be in proper shape to play T20 cricket. I have controlled my diet and kept a tab of my protein intake. I am modeling my body to suit T20 cricket by doing short sprints and doing fitness regimes. My training sessions involve routines keeping in mind the fast-paced nature of the game and the amount of physical stress the body goes through during the course of the game.”

He might be getting old; but Tambe is showing no signs of ageing. At 43, he still fit as a fiddle, diving around, saving runs for his team and putting forward his team’s needs ahead of anything else. There is no doubt in his abilities and commitment when it comes to playing for the Royals - a franchise that gave him a new lease of life; something that Tambe is indebted for. “There is something about the Rajasthan Royals that makes me want to perform for them. This franchise gave me a chance to showcase my skills at a time when I hadn’t even played a single First-class game. They have given me so much love and affection that my love for the game has only grown over a period of time.

“I feel very comfortable in this dressing room. Never have I felt alone in a setup that is full of international stars. They bridge the gap between the domestic and international players quite easily. I enjoy being here. I am not someone who sets goals. I am here to enjoy the game and I will look to do so in the future as well.”