RC Chief Blogger

While maintaining his superstition of standing throughout the second innings to ensure a successful chase, Sidhartha Mallya indulges in Team RC talk at the Club Lounge during the 3rd place match against Deccan Chargers. Team RC's Director speaks about his experience this year, fun times on tour, and the person that he is.

RC Chief Blogger

While maintaining his superstition of standing throughout the second innings to ensure a successful chase, Sidhartha Mallya indulges in Team RC talk at the Club Lounge during the 3rd place match against Deccan Chargers. Team RC's Director speaks about his experience this year, fun times on tour, and the person that he is.

Excerpts:

It's your first year as RC Director. What's it been like?

Oh, it's been superb! An incredible six weeks and I loved spending so much time with everyone. It's been an amazing experience and I'm sure I'm going to have some withdrawal symptoms after this tournament.

What's the funniest time you've had on tour this year?

The best time I had was in Mohali. The stadium was beautiful, we chased down 180, the weather was great, and the party was awesome afterwards. It was like being back in boarding school again!

Having spent time with the boys in between matches, can you single out an instance when you've laughed the hardest?

In the team meeting before the game against Mumbai Indians when they came to Bangalore, coach Ray Jennings showed a video of team analyst Prasanna doing impressions of everyone. That was comedy gold!

Having finished 2nd last year and 3rd this year, what in your opinion have been the key factors in the turnaround of RCB's performances from the first season?

In the first year, it was difficult. When anything is in its infant stages, you don't know what to do. So it was a trial and error approach. Yes, we wanted to be playing in the final rather than in the 3rd place match, but what's positive is that we're moving in the right direction. Coach Ray Jennings has been a superb influence. He's a world class guy. He was a world class player when he played, and he's a world class coach.

He's coached the South African national set up and knows a lot about our players from his time there. I think the key is that everyone is enjoying being part of the team, and that's showing in the results.

You're in the process of moving to India after having spent your formative years in the UK. What do you miss most from your time there?

The little things! I miss going to the pub in the UK, sitting down and having a pint, or getting out of the front door of my flat and walking down the street and enjoying myself which you can't really do here.

You've completed university a couple of years ago, akin to a lot of fans on the website. What do you miss most from that stage of life?

Ah, I miss the people a lot. They say you make your best friends at university, at that age. I went to boarding school and then university, so I miss living in a close knit space with a bunch of other people my age. I was also the captain of the university field hockey team, and I miss my team and everything which came with that.

I understand that you're a religious person. Can you tell us something more about that aspect of your personality?

(Nods) We make family trips to Tirupati often, and I try and go atleast once a year. But even when I was growing up in boarding school in the UK, which is Christian, I visited the chapel and sang the hymns, because to me, God is god, and you worship him in your own capacity, doesn't matter if it's a church or a temple.

What superstitions do you have around cricket?

Haha, not now. I'll tell you after the match!

What superstitions do you have outside of cricket?

I have a lot of superstitions. I'm really bad, my mum thinks I've gone nuts! One of those which I follow is the 'Don't walk under a ladder if a black cat passes you by', but there are more too.

Along with your role as Director, your attire has been a topic of much discussion as well. What defines your sense of style?

I'm one of those guys who haven’t modeled himself after anyone. I just try to be unique and different. As far as designers go, Manoviraj Khosla has designed a lot of clothes for me, and there's also Avinash Punjabi from Colaba in Bombay, who makes some fascinating stuff. He designed the white trousers I've been wearing this IPL.

Having traveled extensively, which are the places you keep going back to on vacation?

I just love the Lakshwadeep Islands, because it's untouched beauty! Barcelona's a firm favourite too, as is Goa.

The players become free agents after this IPL. What are your thoughts for RCB looking forward to the next year as far as this is concerned?

Well, they haven't defined the player retention rules yet for the auction, and I guess our first job is to look at that. But I wish all the players the very best, and the important thing I was telling them at the team meeting is that they are the founding members of the Royal Challengers.

Ten years from now, whoever's playing then will remember this bunch of lads as the ones who defined the Royal Challengers and made it what it's going to be.