S badrinath is waiting in the wings and hoping that he will someday don the India cap. And the fact that he is already 27 does not bother him.On the eve of the Irani Trophy match between Rest of India and Mumbai at Madhav Rao Scindia Stadium, Rajkot, Badri — who scored 88 not out against South Africa A at the same venue a few days back — said it was fitness and not age that mattered in cricket.“I don’t think making a debut at the age of 28 or after that is difficult. What matters is your fitness level. If you are really fit on the field then no one will talk about your age. I am as fit or may be fitter than 22-23-year-old players on the field,” he said.Pointing out that making a debut at 30 was not unheard of in Australia, he said: “In Australia there are players who have made their debut at the age of 30 and they are still performing well. But then the Australian culture is a lot different from ours. I am now better mentally equipped than what I was three years ago. I have played lot of domestic as well as international matches and I am mentally prepared to play for India anytime now.”He added: “I have been on the fringes for a year now and I am confident of donning the Men in Blue jersey anytime.”Idolising Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, the Chennai cricketer said he was always hungry for runs. He added that when it came to professionalism and work ethic he looked up to Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey.“Playing the domestic circuit has really helped me, as three years ago I couldn’t clear the ground, but now I can do that. I have started playing innovative shots. I have matured mentally and can now bat at any position,” he said.He explained one of his innovations: “In the slog overs, the bowlers usually deliver a lot of yorkers. So I move inside towards the off-stump keeping in mind that the fine leg is usually inside the circle and hit the ball clean enough to get it over the fielder for a boundary. I played these shots in the last edition of the Irani Trophy and was successful.”
