Narendra Hirwani, 20 seasons after he first turned out for Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, realises that his cricketing future will be limited entirely to the domestic circuit. ‘‘Till last season,’’ he told The Indian Express today, ‘‘I thought I was not completely out of the reckoning. Now, I think it’s over. There won’t be anymore international cricket for me.’’‘Hiru’ started his international career memorably, picking 16 wickets to win the Chennai Test for India against West Indies in 1987-88. His Test career, however, lasted just 16 more games and though he has continued to be a prolific wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy (picking 718 till date between MP and the short stint with Bengal), he has been — for all practical purposes — out since the 1996-97 season when he made a comeback for three Tests.An incomplete career in many ways then? ‘‘You can say that. There were things I could have done better. There were things that didn’t go my way. I dreamt of bigger things than what I achieved finally, but I guess that’s fate,’’ says a slightly bitter-looking Hirwani.Anil Kumble’s emergence might have had a big role to play in Hirwani’s gradual relegation to the sidelines. Two leg-spinners in a side, after all, is a luxury few teams can afford. Does he sometimes wish Kumble didn’t exist? ‘‘Oh no, not at all,’’ Hirwani says. ‘‘He and I are regularly in touch and he has achieved great things. I did have more variety in my bowling than anyone else. Maybe he fit into the Indian team’s plans better than I did.’’But Hirwani is a little agitated when pushed into a corner about his rotund shape and lack of batting abilities. Unlike spinners like Maninder Singh and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan — who worked on their batting after losing their place in the Indian side — Hirwani remained a poor batsman, averaging 10.76 from his 161 first-class matches. ‘‘But what happened to them? They were fit and good fielders and better batsmen. How come they vanished? I am still a cricketer at 37,’’ Hirwani retorts.And finally, what makes him return to the ground day after day, considering he is now resigned to the fact that there’s no major goal in sight? ‘‘Just a love for the game,’’ he says, somewhat clichedly. ‘‘Also, I am a senior player in the team and the juniors need guidance. Let a better spinner come, and I will go away. But till I can, I will continue.’’
