Extra innings

What made you start writing a blog as the Fake IPL player? And what or who were your sources for information?
May be a few cases of beer too many! Over the years,I had collected a bagful of juicy stories about the world of cricket which I shared with close friends. For obvious reasons,they loved them. One evening,we were sitting around,drinking beer,me and three other friends when they expressed their desire to enjoy the stories in real time while the action was on. And immediately the idea of the blog had germinated. It was supposed to be a dirty little black book between just the four of us. I never thought anybody would even find out about it. Nothing in the world could have prepared me for the buzz it generated. Sources of information cannot be disclosed at this stage.

According to you,what were the factors responsible for the popularity of the blog? Do you feel that there is a vacuum in popular sports writing in India?

I think the blog’s audacity may have shocked the wits out of everyone when it was initially discovered. After that,like a typical Bollywood pot boiler,the blog had something in it for everyone — juicy stories for the voyeuristically-inclined,humour for the entertainment-starved and information beyond press conferences for the cricket-crazy. The only thing missing was an item number. But,the biggest factor for its popularity was that it was Fake IPL Player. Every single day old rivalries are renewed,scores are settled and personalities clash,on the field and off it.

In terms of sports writing,I think the internet has some fresh writers. There are several bloggers who have a distinctly interesting style of writing about sports. I think the mainstream media needs to realise that getting ex-cricketers to write about a match that happened the previous day,which has already been dissected to death on TV and the nternet,isn’t of interest to sports readers anymore.

What is The Gamechangers about? Why did you choose to fictionalise the blog? How did the book deal come through?

The Gamechangers is a fictionalised account of what goes on behind the scenes of a high profile cricket league. The book has several plots and sub-plots. An Australian coach conspiring against India ‘s favourite son,a Bollywood star desperate to win the tournament,two warring princes of Indian cricket staking a claim on the dynastic sword,a self-proclaimed Caesar of cricket plotting his way to world domination. And upsetting the apple-cart is an evil anonymous blogger. The hunt for the blogger is the core of the story. After I wrapped up the blog last year,I decided to approach the top few publishers. Harper Collins was the easiest to contact through their website. And I was pleasantly surprised that they were excited about it once they read the synopsis.

What are your future plans?
I think the Fake IPL Player is a concept that can be taken across different media in different forms. Last season,the blog was the right medium to express myself. After that,the book was my medium of I am hoping that the Fake IPL Player concept will remain relevant for a longer period of time. And he will come,periodically,in different forms,over different media and,hopefully,will continue to shock and entertain.