An Exclusive Interview with Satyam Dixit: A cricketer by profession and a very close friend of Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav

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Here are some highlights from the interview

Satyam Dixit, a promising cricketer from Kanpur, has carved a niche for himself in the competitive world of cricket, not just as a player but also as a close friend of Kuldeep Yadav, the renowned Indian spinner. Both athletes were trained under the same coach, Kapil Pandey, and have shared countless memories on the cricket field while playing domestic grade cricket together. Their journey reflects a deep camaraderie and mutual respect, with Kuldeep achieving international fame by donning the Indian jersey, while Satyam remains steadfast in pursuing his own cricketing dreams.

As Satyam prepares to take a significant step in his career by joining the California Golden Eagles for the USPL, he embodies the spirit of perseverance and dedication that defines aspiring athletes. His experiences alongside Kuldeep offer unique insights into the challenges and triumphs faced by cricketers in their pursuit of excellence. In this interview, we delve into Satyam’s journey, his friendship with Kuldeep, and his aspirations as he embarks on this exciting new chapter in his cricketing career.

Here are some highlights from the interview:

Q. How did your cricketing journey started growing up with Kuldeep Yadav in Kanpur?

Satyam: So, my journey began with my father who also was a cricketer who shared dressing room with the likes of some legendary names like Shashikant Khandekar, Sunil Chaturvedi and Vipin Vats. We are three brothers Satyam, Shivam, and Sundaram and all play cricket, in 2004 my journey to take up cricket as a professional sport started and one big reason is a scene of the Indian triumph in Lord’s where Sourav Ganguly waved off his Indian jersey after winning the match. At that point of time I was in Jammu and after my father retired, we came to Kanpur and the first thing we did was I joined an academy, soon after two-months Kuldeep too joined too. Joining the academy, I got an idea to pursue cricket.

Initially Kuldeep wanted to be a fast bowler, he really loved bowling fast but our coach was really aware of all the players, so he convinced Kuldeep to be a chinaman instead of bowling medium pace. We both played together in all our grade and domestic cricket and that’s it he went on to wear Indian jersey.

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Q. How do you describe your current form and approach in cricket?

Satyam: Well cricket is something that doesn’t go out of a player’s system, and when I talk about me, nothing’s much different here too, I have a job but after my work hour my most time goes practising on the ground, I even have installed a net practise set up on my house’s terrace. And if we talk about my form, I feel I am kind of okay with my form and want to improve it by practising continuously so that I can perform in USPL this year.

Q. When and how your and Kuldeep Yadav’s friendship began?

Satyam: Kuldeep and I became friends really early in our childhood, we both played a tournament where you would be surprised that wasn’t under 16, under 14 but under 5 feet, so this was a tournament organised by Kanpur Cricket Association where every player was under the height of 5 feet, and we being 12 to 13-year-old kids were able to play the tournament advantageous of our small height and less age. This was a tournament where we played for the first time and won it, where we both played well and contributed too for the win, this marked the beginning of our friendship where we became close friends.

Q. How challenging is it for UP players to adapt to fast paced cricket?

Satyam: Cricket has certainly changed when it comes to gameplay, and there was a time when leaving a good bowl was appreciated but nowadays, you can’t afford to play like that anymore. If we look at the players who are playing for India in T20Is and those who play in ODIs the playing intent of both the teams is quite different, you would see more dynamic shots in T20s as the team crafted for different formats by BCCI is quite intelligently crafted. Therefore, now every player can choose and pick their own format and adapt to the new norms of cricket accordingly.

Q. How tough is the journey to become a professional cricketer in India?

Satyam: World’s most populous country where every other kid dreams of being a professional cricketer in India, amid this glitz and glamour everybody wants to be there as a cricketer,
one thing that also attracts everyone is the financial security that it gives and also if parents and coaches think that their kid is good in cricket, they indeed give a push for it. But all in fairness is great until you perform and perform consistently, because there are many players to replace you or sometimes, they are better than you. So, the journey is quite tough in India to pursue cricket as a profession but it gradually becomes tougher if you don’t keep yourself uptight. I would also urge if someone young is aspiring to be a cricketer please go ahead but firstly sit and have a discussion with your coach about your potential and your gameplay.