IPL is where Malinga, Mendis and Kaushal want to be

Choosing to drive from Galle to Colombo by the old bumpy four-hour route as opposed to the super smooth hour-long highway turned out to be an enriching experience. Sipping the yellow Sri Lankan coconut on the way, the journey reiterated to us that cricket remained the island nation’s number one sport. With street cricket commonplace much like gully cricket is in India, even Sri Lanka still is a one-sport nation.

While people feel a sense of pride with the exploits of their cricket stars, the game’s following has reached a plateau after losing stars in a heap. Much like the neighbouring India, star culture in Sri Lanka drives its cricket fan following. With Muralitharan, Jayawardene and now even Sangakkara gone, fans are left searching for their next "crickut" idol.

There’s one man though who easily passes the muster as far as enjoying cult status goes; the great toe-crusher of our times, Lasith Malinga.

Locating his original home in Rathgama, about 15kms from Galle didn’t turn out to be that arduous. A trishaw driver had some vague idea where he had to take us and as we came closer, a grocery shop owner, coconut seller, playful kids, all knew how to guide us to the Malinga residence. Mother Malinga was not really inviting to us strangers and only a word that we meet "Mumbai Indian Lasith" every year when he came down for the Indian Premier League (IPL) duties was enough to brake the ice. Nothing of the old Malinga household suggested it housed a star but like all other successful Sri Lankan cricketers, he had migrated to Colombo.

We made the effort to meet the man in person in Colombo and found him undergoing fitness sessions in the gym at the now-refurbished Premadasa stadium. Everything from his curly locks to swanky white BMW attracted a second glance. Social media told us we chose the right day as it was also his birthday but he bowled me a slower one and deceived me to believe it wasn’t his real birthday. As the interview began, I asked him to correct the birthday myth. Malinga replied with a sheepish smile that it was actually his birthday. It was good to know he still retained his playful ways amidst losing form and injury issues, and was now served an ultimatum to shape up if he wanted to continue leading the Sri Lankan T20 team with the World Cup not too far away. Interestingly, his English had improved manifold. Call it the IPL effect.

Another cricketer whose improved command over the Queen’s language astounded me was lost star Ajantha Mendis. His mystery ball isn’t a mystery any more as Mendis now looks to pick up the pieces and re-acquire form and fitness to stage a comeback. Mendis, whom I last interviewed with the help of a translator in his "coming of age" tour in 2008, now needs no such help as he makes his gym entry, parking his red Lexus. “Noo English classes Macha,” he tells me. IPL dressing rooms don’t just help improve your game, that’s where a lot of our cricketers take their English lessons as well. While Malinga and Mendis are looking to resurrect their respective careers, a new chip on the block I met left me inspired.

While the cricket continued at Galle, we took a trishaw ride to Rathgama again, this time looking out for young off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal’s home. Kaushal is considered the next big spin hope here. We had heard about it being a humble house but a 75-sq feet shanty left us overwhelmed about how excellence aided by ambition needed no breeding ground. The way Kaushal’s father lived through daily labour and how his mother took to selling sweets to help their ward travel to Colombo for daily practice left us amazed. The lemon cream biscuits tasted much sweeter after hearing the story of toil and hard work triumphing over poverty.

Quite possibly, in a few years time, if Kaushal’s career graph continues to take a positive climb and the IPL beckons, Colombo will be Kaushal’s new address as well. A BMW, Lexus or another SUV may soon become a choice and the trishaw he has currently gifted his father to meet day-to-day expenses may be consigned to the depository.