Mumbai, April 21: West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara, who is part of the commentators' panel in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, wants to see other teams offer some challenge to defending champions Mumbai Indians in this edition. The 51-year-old former West Indies captain believes Jason Holder of Sunrisers Hyderabad could be the best Caribbean player to do well in this edition.
In a candid chat with IPL official broadcasters StarSports, the 'Prince of Trinidad' answered 14 questions and shared his views about the players to watch out for from IPL 14. Lara also talked about his cricketing days and his journey as a cricketer as well as the commentator.
Here are the excerpts:
Q: What are you looking forward to the most this year?
Brian Lara: I am looking forward to a team to challenge Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians are of course are a great little outfit and a great team. They have had their players for quite some time, so the stability is very good. So, I want to see one of the other teams truly challenge them in this year's 2021 IPL.
Q: Your most memorable game so far this year?
Brian Lara: This year there have been quite a few games. The tournament is not that old but to think of, KKR falling apart in their second game - to lose, after being in such a great position, it's pretty disappointing.
Q: Your player to watch out for so far?
Brian Lara: Young Abdul Samad. I know he has had just two innings, but I think he is someone who can pretty much be one of the shining knights at the end of the tournament.
Q: Which West Indian player is your pick for shining this year?
Brian Lara: I think Jason Holder could do pretty well. He ended up replacing Mitchell Marsh in the 2020 IPL, so I expect him to maybe come up with trumps this year. The tracks are not so favourable to the pace where he is playing at present, but he is such a good all-round player that I hope he can maintain his play and really show that the West Indians are here to stay.
Q: Who is your favourite co-commentator in the dugout?
Brian Lara: It has got to be Scott Styris. His knowledge of the game and the questions he asks are great. I enjoy working with him.
Q: Who is your Greatest Of All Time?
Brian Lara: The Greatest Of All Time has to be....different eras. I am someone who finds it very difficult to have an opinion on the Greatest Of All Time when there are so many good ones. I mean, back in the day, of course, Don Bradman. Let me give you a few - Garfield Sobers, a great all-rounder, Sir Vivian Richards, a great batsman. Then, in my time, you had guys like Jacques Kallis, all-around ability, Sachin Tendulkar, a great batsman. So, quite a few. I think I love, really appreciating each player for what they brought to the game.
Q: Who was your cricketing hero while growing up?
Brian Lara: When I was very young, it was Roy Fredricks, a left-handed opening batsman from the West Indies in the 70s and the early 80s. Back in those days as a kid, I was a left-handed batsman. He used to have a long-sleeve white shirt. I also used to have a long-sleeve white shirt, just to be like him. But then, as I grew a little older, Sir Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, these were all the guys who I tried to pick something and learn out of them.