‘Virat Kohli is a leader, even when he’s not officially leading’ – Chama Milind on playing alongside former RCB captain

Hyderabad, famous for producing some of India’s finest batters like Mohammad Azharuddin and VVS Laxman, is also home to a highly skilled bowler in the form of Chama Milind. The 31-year-old, who probably grew up listening to the wristy work by Hyderabadi batters, learnt to seam it up at a very early age. His left-arm pace soon caught attention, and he earned an IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

With his consistency in domestic cricket, especially the white-ball formats, Milind caught the eye of RCB scouts, where he got to share his experiences from the dressing room and lifelong lessons he got from the legendary Virat Kohli. During an exclusive conversation with CricTracker, Milind shared a few anecdotes from his storied cricketing career.

Excerpts from the interview

1. You have led Hyderabad to crucial wins in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, so how do you approach captaincy differently compared to just focusing on your individual performance as an all-rounder?

“I think this was my first full assignment as captain. Last year, I captained a couple of matches in the Ranji Trophy. So this time, I had just one thought: I had to do something different because we’ve been playing for so many years but still find it hard to qualify. And that’s when you get noticed.

“I decided to lead by example. Whatever I say, people will follow only if they see me doing it first. So that’s what I focused on. I tried to put myself in tough situations as a bowler, taking up the difficult overs, like at the end of the powerplay or at the death. I took that responsibility for the team. I think I put some pressure on myself, but it helped. I’ve been playing for a while now, so I was able to absorb that pressure, and the team was also okay with it.

“If you look at it, as a bowling unit, we did really well in the tournament, and that’s one of the main reasons we qualified. Again, since this was my first time, I didn’t know how it would go. But I feel captaincy is actually enhancing my performance because, as a leader, you’re always involved. I think that has really helped.”

2. You have played many matches for Hyderabad, so if we ask for one performance of yours that is memorable so far, which one would it be?

“Memorable… actually, it was this year in a Ranji Trophy match against Himachal. I think they had scored around 340, and we were 127 for 7. When I went in to bat from that situation, I scored 98. Then in the second innings, we were still about 40 runs behind. After that, I came in and took three wickets in the second innings. I think that helped the team bowl them out quickly. We got a target of around 370, which we chased on the last day. So I would say that is one of my really good performances.”

3. Who was your biggest idol while you were growing up?

“Zaheer Khan was my idol in the beginning. I always admired him because of his cricketing brain. He was a very intelligent bowler. Even though he had his limitations, whether it was fitness or anything else, he still achieved great things. I also like Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult.”

4. If we talk about the IPL, what does playing in the IPL mean to someone who has come through the domestic circuit?

“I think players who have played domestic cricket have that experience. These days, I’m not sure on what basis IPL selections are made. I think T20 leagues look at various factors. But to answer your question, players who are playing domestic cricket have that experience, and I think that definitely adds value.

“Of course, there are certain criteria for selection in the IPL. They look at specific things. But if a domestic player can meet those criteria, then he becomes a bonus because of the experience of playing so many games, however long he has played in domestic cricket.

“Domestic cricket in India is not easy. I think any player in India would tell you that. So someone who does well in domestic cricket has that confidence in himself.”

5. When you first entered the IPL dressing room, what was something that surprised you, or was there any incident that stood out?

“I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I’ve been in the IPL for about five years now. When I first went in, I used to wonder what these big players were doing. I was at Sunrisers with players like David Warner and Kane Williamson. But then I realized they don’t do anything extraordinary. They just stick to their routines. Their preparation before a tournament is very thorough.

“Whether it’s a series or the IPL, they have already played a lot in Indian conditions, so they come well prepared. They understand how the wickets behave, that they can be a bit slow, and they prepare accordingly. Even in the nets before matches, they try to replicate those conditions. There’s no lack in their preparation. That is one thing I really liked.”

6. Is there any particular captain you would like to play under but haven’t had the chance to be in that team yet?

“No, nothing like that. I was with RCB, and Faf was the captain. Before that, Virat [Kohli] bhai was the captain. I really wanted to play under Virat bhai. But I have seen him from close quarters. I mean, he is a leader even if he is not officially leading. So I don’t have anyone specific in mind. I’m okay with it. Ideally, there isn’t just one person because all of them are great leaders.”

7. Since you mentioned Virat Kohli, you have shared a dressing room with him. Is there any advice from him that has helped you?

“I haven’t spoken to him much, to be honest, because Virat Kohli usually stays in his own zone. He is very focused on his preparation and routines. But whatever little I’ve spoken to him, he always emphasizes discipline and thorough preparation. He says that if your preparation is solid, then on match day you won’t feel as much pressure because you’ve already prepared well. I think that’s a very important tip he has given me, and I’ve tried to follow it. It has helped me over the last two years.”

8. Across the teams and franchises you’ve been part of, were there any bowlers from whom you received really useful tips that helped you, even in domestic cricket?

“When I was with Sunrisers, I once spoke to Trent Boult about how he goes about things. This was a long time ago, but he spoke to me really well. He explained how to train, how to take care of the body, and also about the game itself, like how to read a batsman. He specifically mentioned that you can sense a wicket and even create a wicket instead of just coming in and bowling and hoping it happens. It’s not about luck. If you use your mind, you can actually create wickets.”

9. If we talk about your domestic cricket, you’ve been very consistent throughout. So how close do you think you are to an India call-up?

“It’s interesting because till I was around 27 or 28, I used to think like this: I have to play for India now; this is the age; I have to make it happen immediately. But over the last three or four years, my mindset has changed. I realised that it’s not completely in my control. So now, whatever team or match I’m playing, my goal is to perform well there and help the team win. I focus on the impact I’m making.

“Whether it’s a club match, a tennis-ball game near home, a Ranji match, or anything else, I take every match seriously. That has helped me a lot in the last three or four years. Even for small matches, I follow my routine. As an all-rounder, I have to prepare properly before every game. I can’t just walk in casually. I do mobility work and proper preparation before any match. That discipline and routine have really helped me.

“So now, to answer your question, I just want to play and enjoy my cricket. I’m not thinking too much about selection or performance in that sense. My focus is on helping the team win. As I mentioned earlier, that Ranji Trophy game was a significant performance. Of course, that’s just one game, and I want to do it more consistently. I also had a good role in helping the team qualify in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. So yes, I’m just enjoying myself and looking to win games. I think that’s a good habit to have.”

10. So if you receive your maiden India call-up, which format would you prefer to play: T20, ODI, or Test cricket?

“There’s nothing specific. Whatever opportunity I get will be good. But if you ask me, T20 would be good because I like T20 and it’s something I really enjoy playing.”