158 in IPL was my first breakout innings, took two years to get over it: Brendon McCullum

Former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum was the poster face of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. 10 years later, Bmac was at his best again. Playing against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at Rajkot for the Gujarat Lions, he scored a 44-ball 72 in a recent encounter. It was against the very same opposition against whom he had clobbered a scintillating 73-ball 158. It was the first match of the T20 extravaganza.

Perhaps, it was his lovely knock that announced the grand arrival of the Indian Premier League at the world stage. Also, on the personal front, the knock was a breakout innings for Brendon McCullum. As per the recent quotes in the Sportstarlive, the Kiwi cricketer admitted the same. When asked about that knock and the impact it had on his career, Brendon McCullum noted that it had a huge impact. He has loved playing in the tournament.

“Huge. Ten years ago, I was 25 years of age. Very much trying to cut my teeth in the international circuit. Even though I had been around for five years, I never really had a splash as such. I promised a little bit but never actually delivered anything. I guess that was the first breakout innings where people actually sort of stood up and took notice. Ever since then, it has been amazing. It’s been phenomenal. My profile in India has been really strong,” quoted McCullum.

Talking further, he accepted the fact that even he was surprised with his own knock. The build up to the tournament and his performances have been huge. McCullum remarked that he loves to visit India. He has been in love with the passion that the players have been showering on the game of cricket. Also, his family loves coming to India and they enjoy their time in the country.

“To be honest, it took me a couple of years to get over that. Just the level of expectation, just to turn up and perform like that every time. That was once or twice of a kind of innings in lifetime, especially when you consider the timing of it as well. It has been phenomenal,” quoted the former New Zealand skipper.

“I love coming to India. It is completely different to New Zealand. The passion with which people follow the game and how they love you. You would love to attend to every single one — people want autographs, photos — that’s not possible as well. But I have got my family here for 10 years as well. They have had a pretty good time as well,” he conceded further.

When asked to describe his experience with the four IPL teams he has played for, Baz said, “Kolkata and Chennai were great experiences. I had five years at Kolkata, they gave me my first opportunity. They were fantastic. Excellent owners. A real glitzy, glamorous owners as well.”

Speaking about the most successful IPL side, he said, “Chennai was incredible couple of years. The way they cared for every single person, not just the playing squad but the support staff — whether (it was) the bag man or M. S. Dhoni it didn’t matter. They are all part of the CSK family. And we were obviously a very good cricket team as well.”

“Kochi Tuskers — was frustrating. We were in and out for just a year. We had the makings of a good cricket team but it just never worked.”

“This franchise (Gujarat Lions), we have got a very good mix of cricketers. It will be interesting to see what happens.”