No matches? No problem, the Buddha’s still smiling

And, far from regretting not gettig a game, says he’s actually developed some bowling skills.

‘‘Nobody relishes the prospect of sitting on the sidebenches. But there are two ways of looking at it. You can either sit and brood about the possibilities or see things in a positive way, by finding out how you can be useful to the team,’’ Bangar says.

Though the world might see Bangar as the man who applauds his team’s performances or carries in the drinks, the all-rounder’s services are worth a lot during the nets. And, with an air of quiet confidence, he knows this.

‘‘Ajit Agarkar and I do the bulk of bowling during nets as the match bowlers — Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan — are kept fresh for the real thing.’’

With typical Mumbaikar pragmatism, Bangar has set himself individual goals for every day. ‘‘I have a daily agenda at the nets. I think of developing my bowling, batting and fielding,’’ he said.

Bowling with Srinath at the nets, something of the big man has obviously rubbed off onto the junior. ‘‘Before the World Cup started Sribhai told me how to use my wrist to get more pace during bowling,’’ he said.

Does he feel left out during team meetings, when the focus is obviously on other pace bowlers? Such has been the team environment that everybody helps each other.

‘‘If I have spotted some shortcomings of a particular batsman or a bowler I make it a point to speak my mind,’’ he said.

Bangar is the only player to have brought his wife and child here. The whole team, he feels, is one big family. ‘‘The atmosphere is so good that one never feels out of place. The captain and the coach make everybody in the team feel so important,’’ he said.

‘‘Interacting with John Wright, Andrew Leipus and Adrian Le Roux opened my eyes to many things. Though I was fit even before joining the team, the gym work has increased my strength a great deal. Maybe my speed too has increased,’’ he said.

So is this the reason for the other pacers too getting quicker? ‘‘Well actually there is an angle to it. The speed guns are different in every country, they aren’t standardised. The same ball in New Zealand might clock less speed but in South Africa it will be come out faster,’’ he says.

That’s the honesty of a man who does not believe overstating facts. Bangar, nicknamed ‘Buddha’ for his calm on and off the field, says that ‘‘it is something in my upbringing, very rarely do I lose my temper.’’

The most obvious question is saved for the last. Does he think about Sunil Valson (who never played a match in 1983)? If the team wins the World Cup and Bangar goes home without playing a game will he be happy sharing the accolades and prizes? ‘‘I don’t see things that way. Besides, I have worked hard to be in this team and deserve to here,’’ he said. The Buddha walks off, smiling.