By Malay Desai
If the world’s cricketers were told to ballet at gunpoint, the left-arm spinners would not only survive, they’d steal the show. For years, their actions and arcs have charmed commentators, and Madras born Murali Kartik was no exception.
Playing in the era of Kumble and Harbhajan, Kartik didn’t come close to the success of cricket’s other Murali, but boasts of a long domestic record and appearances in many IPL teams. Surprisingly, Kartik has already over a decade of golfing experience.
Accolades for golf: Murali Kartik at India Golf Awards
“It was my friend Rahul Sanghvi (another left-arm spinner) who took me to a range and said, ‘That’s how you grip the club, that’s how you stand… now go for it!’ That was that!” Kartik recalls his initiation of ’10-12 years ago’, writing to us after a round of golf at the historic Wentworth Club, London. He admits he was never serious about golfing while in the thick of orthodox bowling. “I probably played one round a year after that – it’s only four-five years ago that I got hooked,” he says.
The older one of two siblings, Kartik rose through junior cricket in Delhi, where their parents worked. Nearly 20 years of ball and bat around the world later, he has hung up his boots, and is back in the Capital, making new arcs. “I live five minutes away from the DLF course where I tee off with a few friends. I want to become a scratch golfer,” his ambitions are clear.
I want to become a scratch golfer
Kartik is a familiar talking head on cricket shows now, but he hasn’t let TV commitments affect his golf learning curve. “It’s a tough sport – no two holes in the world are similar, no two lies are different… and less is more!” he says, explaining, “Mis-hits will never be rewarded. You’re constantly challenged to pick one of 14 clubs of varying lengths, weights and angles.”
“If one is not in a great (mental) space, golf could get arduous. You tend to draw from whatever other sport you play; I’ve realised golf’s demands are similar to those of cricket,” Kartik says, before highlighting a crucial difference. “Here, you are on your own the whole 18 holes. But in cricket, you have teammates and coaches to help you along!”
Kartik however found some able hands to borrow technique from in this journey. “I like to play with Ashok Kumar, a pro from the (DLF) club who has contributed much to my skills and outlook,” he believes. He has fostered a friendship with Shiv Kapur and Anirban Lahiri over the years but hasn’t played them yet.
It’s about practically practising the short game, putting, being good at bunker play?
Having begun golfing early, Kartik already has some trophies for a separate shelf at home. He won the Hero Pro-Am at the DGC in 2013, and followed it up with a runner-up performance at the BMW Championships and a Hindu Golf Championship win a year later.
There’s a valley between his skills and those of his famous golfer friends, viz. Digvijay Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Rahil Gangjee and the likes, but the left-hander is forthright about it. “I’m at 7 right now and I know it’s a lot of hard work. It’s about practically practising the short game, putting, being good at bunker play?… all this not to be a professional but to keep looking forward to a great sport!” he says.
Finally, what’s a chat with a cricketer-golfer without references to former teammates? “I’d like to see Yuvraj and Sehwag try golf – they have a wonderful arc with their bats. Sachin is already playing it; I assure you he’ll take the same attitude forward!” he quips.
Kartik turns 39 this September, and if he keeps swinging it well, his second career might just turn out to be more exciting than his first.
