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Jatin Sapru has been a familiar face for cricket lovers on Star Sports. Jatin is a very energetic anchor, he did show us the same. We were so hyped up for this feature interview, and glad that everything went well.
Here is a written version of the podcast
Chirunandhan 0:09
Our country has a population of about nearly 1.5 billion people. And cricket here in India is regarded as a religion. And it's like every household will have at least one kid wanting to don the Indian colors someday or the other. Some people, they get onto the cricket field by their perseverance. They get onto the 20 yards. But there are a few more people whose passion leads them to the studio or the comm box, with their microphones in their hand, the only difference being players hold the wooden bat in their hand. And people like Jatin Sapru who entertain people like us hold a microphone in their hand. It's my pleasure and honor to welcome Jatin sapru here on this show, he has been a commentator and a presenter for a lot of years now. Thanks for coming here on this show.
Jatin Sapru 1:02
Chirunandhan, thank you so much for your very, very kind words and this wonderful introduction. I am delighted to be on this podcast. Because when I was told that it is being conducted by two upcoming youngsters who love the game, and that you're not waiting for age or a profession to get going. That is a story that just delighted me. So without any two thoughts. I was very happy to be here and now seeing your faces as well. I know this is going to go out as a podcast but because we're on a link and I can see your lovely innocent young faces. Chiru, Maitreya thank you so much for having me on this podcast. I am extremely delighted and excited. Also Maitreya the shirt that you're wearing resembles my school shirt. (A marron shirt) It was roughly these colors. And the very fact that you two young smiling faces have the excellent guidance of arguably one of the best journos, guides, teachers that as youngsters have had in the field of sports journalism, which is Vijay Lokapally sir.
Chirunandhan 2:19
Jatin sir, let's start the mainstream. So, Today is National engineer's day, and you happen to be an engineer student. I don't know whenever we get on guests, right? There's some day that's related to them. So it happens to you as well.
Jatin Sapru 2:43
Let me just correct you. I am a failed engineer, engineering dropout. So I think all the engineers would be up in arms because they battled through for years and various semesters, and God knows how many submissions, I was very poor at all of them. And I took the easy way out after about eight and a half months of my attempt in mechanical engineering. So while I have utmost respect for the engineering community, my dad is a chemical engineer. I think I would do a disservice to the hard working engineers if I call myself one. So in engineering dropout would be the right word.
Chirunandhan 3:24
Alright, whatever you want to call it, call it, but today is natural engineers, may be I could be wishing your father Engineer's Day. So sir, like, cricket is your passion. I mean, how did this passion come out? I mean, when you get into this cricket presenting and this commentating Did you have any backup plan that you would do this, if not this?
Jatin Sapru 3:48
Did I have a backup plan? would be a good question to answer if cricket was my plan. I mean, the fact is, I had no plan. I had zero plan. So I'll tell you what happened. I was a completely clueless kid. I loved the game. I loved the sport. It gave me a lot. Even as someone growing up, I was a chubby kid till I got into sports in class seven. And I used to go on to the field primarily started with Javelin discus throw & shortput because the coach said that I was a big fat guy, had big shoulders, come on, you should be in these three sports. And then I would, you know, watch cricket and my dad would always watch cricket at home. So then I gravitated towards cricket. I used to run a lot and that's how I dropped weight. So I think for almost a year I was on the outskirts of the team because my coach would just make me run he used to call me “motu” and I'd see all my friends in the zero period as we have in school, I think, I think they still have zero periods in school. So I used to be just running and running in zero periods trying to lose some weight. And then I started playing cricket at that level, I think I was decent. I was a wicket keeper and an opening batsman, you know, little scouty types, not as big as Cornwall maybe, but I was okay. And then I was getting into Delhi had a zonal structure then so I just started getting into the zonal structure. And in class 10 I did okay. But in class 11, I took up science. And I didn't do very well in science because it wasn't my first preference. But my dad thought that that's the right field and he was keen on it, I took up science and my academics took a beating, my results were not good. And back in 2000, cricket was not an avenue where, you know, you had the IPL, or a lot of people could make it big. So my faculty and my parents decided that I should give up the sport, my kit was locked, and that sort of shattered my cricketing dreams. I tried my very best, I could not get the best marks, I mean, I barely passed with 64%. And then I tried engineering in some of the top institutes and rightly so I didn't make it. Then I got into a private college and I was not enjoying it. I was clueless, my dad was upset. And there's very little guidance, you know, there's not the internet at that time, and not a lot of people. And I was clueless. So when I opted out of engineering, I didn't know where I'm going. Cricket broadcast was not even on my mind. And I thought, what could I do? And then I remember in class 10, I used to enjoy writing a lot. And one of my faculty, my English teachers had told my mother, I remembered in a PTM, that, you know, might not be a bad idea for him to get into writing. He's got away with words. And then I told my dad that I want to do English honors. And again, they weren't quite sure, how will that lead to a job opportunity. And I wasted a year, I don't call it a waste of a year. But I didn't do anything that you're rather than just figuring out what I would do. And then I went into journalism, which I realized was, at that time, a booming field. And there were so many stalwarts, and I got into journalism, and I got my confidence back. You know, I started doing well, in subjects, I started getting good marks. And then I just knew that I want to be in journalism, I wanted to become a psychologist at one point, you know, election coverage. I used to love the coverage and so many channels. And even then sports is not on my mind. Because there's no Avenue I didn't know anyone in any of the big channels or a news channel. I just enjoyed the medium. I enjoyed writing, I enjoyed the internships I did at print in television. And then this happened by an accident, I would say so. So to answer the question, I did not have any plan, let alone a backup plan. But once I joined journalism, I just knew it, that I will be around this field somewhere. And I just went in with a very open mind.
Chirunandhan 7:46
So the next question is somewhat related to what you have told us now. Like you said, you were a chubby guy, and then you became fit while running. So there's, a fan club that you are aware of, on Instagram. @jatinsapru.fc they want to ask you what motivated you to become into this fit guy.
Jatin Sapru 8:17
You know, we all talk about Virat Kohli story, right? And at some point, I'm sure on the podcast we will do. I can't compare my story to him. But I do see a little similarity between us. In 2011, when I once had joined ESPN, I was on television, I was doing sports reporting. And I was enjoying I was traveling the world, I was eating a lot, my routine was all over the place. And I was good. After seven, eight years of hardships, I'd found a good opening and I was enjoying it a bit too much. And then in 2011 I saw one of the stories that I did on TV myself. And I looked at myself and I said if television is where I want to be for a while I have to look the part. You know I firmly believe that at least sports television is not an area where looks matter if you're on a visual medium and you feel good about yourself, because you are going to see yourself and people are also seeing you then I think a little bit of dedication towards that is important. So then I just decided I need to set myself right I changed a lot of things in my life, my routine my discipline, and fitness was a by product of it. I wanted to correct everything I wanted to go all in after enjoying it two to three years, you know almost like how we enjoy the first few months of school or the first semester of college before we decide that now it's time to be serious. So those first three years were enjoying my gig with sports but then it was time to get serious. And fitness just came as part of that discipline.
Maitreya 9:46
And then we will talk about your early life. So you were born in Kashmir, and you had lived the first few years in Kashmir, but then your family had to move to Delhi because the Hindus were targeted at that point of time. And so you are very small then. And what do you remember from that time, and how difficult was it for the family, suddenly moving from the place you had rightfully owned, they had stayed for so many years. And what do you remember from that incident?
Jatin Sapru 10:31
See it was many, many years ago, this is 1990's we're talking about, it was very sad. It's a, you know, for a lot of Kashmiri pundits who had to move overnight, that exodus is a very painful topic. But I think it's a responsibility of us youngsters to while we remember it, but to you know, not let that make our hearts go better towards what happened because the ones who are responsible for it, we're looking at a different generation. So I feel bad for whatever happened to a lot of people. But it's important for us to try and look forward as well. However, it was tough, because my grandfather was part of Kashmir University, my dad was an engineer. And we had a beautiful house with lots of trees. And this is what I've been told, you know, and I've just seen it from the outside. We had good couple of stories. And like most of the houses in Kashmir were and my parents and whole family, they were in Delhi for a vacation. They have winter vacations there. So we were here for a vacation and we got a call from our neighbors, things were getting bad. And they said “don't come back”. “It's not good”. And yeah, so imagine you were on a vacation. And this is a time when there was no net banking, digital banking. And we just never went back. So we moved to a one room house, where my grandfather, grandmother, my mum, dad, and myself. My dad, in fact takes a lot of pride in the fact that he didn't want to take any help from anybody and wanted to start by himself. And it's something that's made him and my mom, my heroes, the only two people that I look up to. And, yeah, it was tough, you know. But I think it just prepared me for all that is gonna come in life. There were some hard times there was sometimes barely any money at home, dad would go around the length and breadth of the city to look for work. And then after a couple of years of trying his hand at different things, he started, you know, finding his bearings. And whatever he would make, he never compromised on my education. I had a younger brother, who was born almost nine years after me. And the main focus was our education. So we saw a lot of hardships. And that makes me value a lot of things. And I think today just keeps me very grounded about life. And yeah, it wasn't easy. But I looked at it in a way when someone asked me Do you regret it? I was too young at that time, my parents still feel the pain. I lost my grandparents because they couldn't really take the shock. But maybe if we had never moved, I wouldn't have gotten this opportunity. So I always look at positives in everything.
Maitreya 12:39
And then we will ask you about the first interview, or the memories of the first interview, how was it? The entire experience?
Jatin Sapru 13:41
Very nice. You know, I should ask you this question. When you guys did your first podcast, how did you feel because it might be very similar. My first interview was Asia Cup 2008. That was in Pakistan. And I think that was the last time there was a big tournament. Now obviously cricket is restart in Pakistan, which is great. But I was there as a young reporter, and Sri Lanka and Pakistan were playing and I was told you know that you will get one of the players we placed a request for either Sanath JayaSuriya or Sangakkara. And I was so nervous. I was like, Well, one of these guys is gonna go on with my first interview. And more than just the interview. You know, there are timings you just have two minutes with the players, there are no retakes, and you have to finish it within two minutes. There is a camera man behind you. And it's all happening first time at such a level. So I was nervous, but I was prepared. I was fully prepared. I knew what I'm going to ask. And I prepared five, six questions and I knew depending on how time goes, I will execute the interview. But I Sanath JayaSuriya came. So he was my first interview, and I could only stare at his forearms. You know he used to beat our bowlers so much, when you're growing up. So I will just look at his forearm because I used to see it on TV boss, look at his forearms, obviously. He's one of the big hitters. And during the interview, I was just looking at a wall, they look even bigger in real life. But it went well. And that gave me a lot of confidence. You know, my cameraman is a South African guy. And these cameraman work in the industry for 10 - 20 - 30 years, they have a lot of experience. So he said, This couldn't have been your first interview? And I told it was. He said, No, you're very good. You didn't fumble. And that gave me a lot of confidence, you know, it wasn't my greatest of interviews, but it gave me a lot of confidence. So I have very fond memories, and a very funny looking photograph. I look two times the size of Santa Jayasuriya
Chirunandhan 15:15
Sir, you have been an English commentator, when you came into this presenting and all those things, then you had to make that switch into Hindi and you're being in that front row for many years. Let me be honest, I'm not a Hindi viewer, because I do not understand Hindi, but talk about this, the switch?
Jatin Sapru 16:00
You know, I completely. And let me put this out to all the viewers. I don't don't believe that Hindi is the language that is spoken and understood across the length and breadth of the country. It is, of course, one of the main languages and it has a big catchment area. It is a beautiful language. But we are really proud here at Star that we now have so many different language feeds that go out because what's the charm of watching a sport that you love so much, if you can't watch it in a language that you think the sport,enjoy the sport in. So I'm really glad that you're honest about it. And I wouldn't want anyone to watch it only because we are there, we try and you know, throw in a little bit of English to make it a little more accessible to someone who might want to watch some of the experts. But the switch was you know, having grown up in Delhi, I could talk good Hindi, my mum taught me very good Hindi. And even in class nine and 10, when everyone was taking French and German, I opted for Hindi. And it was course a which is the tougher Hindi exam. And I got an 82 Man, that was my highest score, all thanks to my mother. But then when I was told that I'll be doing Hindi, I was so scared, because the way we talk and the way you broadcast are two entirely different things. So then I had about 2025 days, and I subscribed to all Hindi newspapers. And then I was reading them. And then I had to make a switch in my head, you know, up, start thinking the game in Hindi, that obviously took six to eight months to 10 months. And a lot of my friends who would also watch English, the thing is, no one had gone wholeheartedly into Hindi the way I think the Star Sports Network did. And they changed, you know, mindset that English does not make you premium, which I firmly believe in. It's a language of choice. And if you give the viewers the same experience in their own language in Hindi, or any other language, they would enjoy it. So I was nervous that I don't let those people down. And as the journey went forward, I mean, now I realize I have a blast in Hindi. You can have a lot of fun. It's like how people in when they're playing, you know, gully cricket feel about the game, the emotions, I think it all comes out in the end. So I prepared myself, I prepare myself and yeah, that's how the change happened.
Chirunandhan 17:34
A listener question, So his question is, what's your favorite memory as a commentator? Which would you rank it on the top?
Jatin Sapru 18:47
I think it's a very easy one after the 2019 World Cup in Manchester, india vs pakistan on the field. And Sachin Tendulkar & Sehwang to my right, in a three man commentary banner, which is me, and arguably two of the greatest that we've had. I thought I've been in industry for so long, so I'm not gonna be nervous. But I'm not kidding. I don't think I have fumbled more than that in the first five minutes of a stent than I have in like 13 years of being part of this broadcast because I don't get overawed and at a very young age in the industry, I realized that I have a job to do. I can't be a fanboy. I am a fan but off the field. So I usually don't get into all but I couldn't resist. And you know, So in 2003, India Pakistan game happened at Centurion. It was a day before my physics board exam, and I went to my tuitions, and the game was on India Pakistan match day, we're going to chase this big total. And I told my tutor, I was like, sir, I have to go. But don't tell my dad. Thankfully, there are no mobile phones, then I had one hour to go for the tuition, I have to see the first few overs. So I left the tuition. I went to a photocopy shop, who had shut his door because too many people wanted to come in and watch the game on his television. I gave him my physics book, which now I had no use of, because next day was the exam. And hopefully I was going to finish it. I gave him the book, I had 100 rupees on me. And I said, I need 200 copies, because 50 paisee was a copy back then. And he let me in. So I gave him 100 rupees, gave him the book and sat there and saw that game for as long as he was copying it. And I have memories of him playing Pakistan. And Viru Bhai, those upper cuts, and now I'm sitting and doing commentary with them. So that was a big moment for me, and I shall never forget it.
Maitreya 20:14
And then another listener. How do you handle jetlag? And how do you handle back to back IPL matches? He has asked this question.
Jatin Sapru 20:26
That is a brilliant question. Not as much jetlag because for the last two years, we've just been handling dishes in the sink and safai at home. So thankfully, no travel because of COVID. So there is no jetlag. But otherwise, I mean, I've never really found jetlag to be too much of an issue. I just pushed myself to sleep at local times. And within two days, you're okay. And I just love traveling. Right? So the excitement is there. And thankfully, I'm not that old yet. But back to back, IPL matches. You know, it's like an IPL is like a 20 Over game. The powerplay all the excitement is there, we waited for the tournament to come you prepared well. So the power play phase, the first seven days, they just go away in a jiffy, you don't realize. And then comes the middle overs where you're feeling a little tired, then you want a day off every now and then. And I can assure you that what happens in the first three or four matches of the team. By the time they're playing the 10th match, we don't remember. So I have to go through the entire scorecard again, because you're watching games every day as you completely forget. And then a moment will come, you will hit that boundary or he took that wicket. So but I never complained. Whenever I complain. My wife tells me, like you said at the start, there are about a billion fans, and they would give an arm and a leg to do what I do. And I have no right to complain. So that keeps pushing me and I love it.
Akash 23:33
So recently Gautam Bhimani sir was here, So what can you share? Some experience?
Jatin Sapru 23:20
Share some experiences with GB? Yes. 100%. When I joined ESPN in 2008. I got in in the cubicles that we had an office, Gautam used to sit diagonally opposite to me. And, you know, we'd grown up watching his color stories. And I used to say, boss, if there is anyone who's enjoyed life with cricket, it is you know, he was he, was the original colorful man who would bring us some fabulous content. We travel the world through his stories, you know, in that era, and first I used to be very nervous. And then I realized he just broke the ice and he was such a lovely person who taught us a lot. You know, a lot of us youngsters had joined around the same time. So we got to learn a lot from Gautham. And then also realized, I don't know GB might kill me for it. But GB also loves his excuses. He will. He had a red Audi you know, very fancy is everything is colorful. So he bought his red Audi and all of us were earning peanuts. And he would come late, but he didn't know that we could see what time he's come from the office. So he would park his car where all the parking spots were taken. And then He'd come up after half an hour, 45 minutes of walking on the road, in his colorful clothes, and then come up and say, oh, “I've been waiting downstairs for two hours”, And then we'd be like, what? “I have come half an hour earlier.” What do you say? And he'd have an excuse ready for everything. And we had some great times. We were on the tour to England together. He showed us all the cool places where he now was a member, and he knew what to order. So you know, he was he was like our first elder brother guide on cricket tours, and learnt a lot from him. Another Story: The first game that happened in Dharamsala. It was very cold. It was super duper cold. And they weren't a lot of you know, great hotels in Dharamsala, then. So we all checked into this one makeshift hotel. And we got in early and at night, we decided the game is two days away, we're going to have a party. So all of us kept ourselves warm. through different ways, which you're too young for. And partying till 2:30 at night, because it was so cold. No one wanted to go in the room. And next morning, we came out and Gautham was outside and he had tears in his eyes. And I came out I was Oh, what a beautiful day The sun is out. And here is Gautam complaining with tears in his eyes. “I'm not going to survive this. I don't know if I live. I don't know if I'll make it to the match two days later.” And I will never forget his image. He was so miserable in the cold. And then I'm like, but what's the issue? It's not that bad. He's like, you need to realize it's my Bengali jeans. I can't handle this. I won't forget that site. GB had shrunk to half a size because of the cold.
Vijay Lokapally 25:53
Listener question, He says he wants to know, How do you keep yourself from giving your opinion in the commentary box? When you are with people who have actually played the sport at the highest level? Did it come naturally to you? Or do you learn and practice it?
Jatin Sapru 27:41
It's a very good question, sir. I used to be very scared at the start. You know, at the start, I would forget opinions. I used to turn almost every call into a question. And then Kapil Paji (Dev) was my fellow commentator. I feel embarrassed to even say it. He used to be my co commentator at times. And after a few stints together, he took me to the side and he said, “Son, you're doing commentary and you earned your stripes, you are here for a reason. You don't have to be an expert. But don't turn everything into a question. You know, you just have to describe what is happening. And this is not q&a. This is commentary,” which I knew which I knew that's a mistake that I'm making. But I was so nervous, right. And because the world is out there to judge you. I used to think maybe too much about these things. But that gave me a lot of confidence. And at the same time, it was great. Not just advice, but he allowed me to share the space with him, which I wasn't too sure about. And that allowed me to grow in confidence. And then over a period of time, what has helped is a lot of these young experts have come in who have probably seen me on the field for 10 - 12 years. So they know that I'm not someone who just comes in does these gigs and then goes home to do other things. They know that I've invested myself into cricket. over all these years, I have learned, so I still would never pass an opinion. But I think I've I've now allowed myself the opportunity to go a little more in depth into the game without making it sound as an opinion. But if there is anything which I've observed, I always then position it as a question to these guys for them to approve it or to disapprove it. So I think the great advantage that as outsiders have is we can state what we've observed. But instead of making it definitive, we can always get our expert to come on board. And whether he approves it ratifies it or he thinks that maybe it's not not correct. So I'm very happy with that. I don't want to be the story. I'm very happy being the storyteller.
Enjoyed the content? Then do listen to the entire episode, this happens to be just some highlights of the episode.
Missed our feature interview with Kartik Murali, do listen here.
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