Sreesanth pens pep number for SA tour

Thiruvananthapuram • There’s perhaps no better way to troop into the Tewnty20 battlefield than by trumpeting, or rather improvising a marching tune. Kerala’s S Sreesanth has done just that, penning a six-liner for the hangama in South Africa.

Sreesanth’s Jago India has been sung by his brother-in-law Madhu Balakrishnan, recently a recipient of two awards from Tamil Nadu Government. The song is part of a music video album, produced Deepu Santh, his elder brother, and directed by Srikanth Murali, an associate of ace director Priyadarshan.

It’s the opening number of the 11-song Hindi music album and the bowler’s lines echo the A R Rahman patriotic numbers. Sreesanth’s lines offer a perfect prelude to the gladiatorial moments on the cricketing arena in South Africa, just days away.

He should be planning sweet recompense for the recent downturns in his career, coming home a cipher from the England tourney and the loss of 50 per cent earnings for his casual brash acts against rivals on the field.

Releasing the video of the song, Sreesanth said: “The song showcases Indian spirit and sentiment. It revolves round aspirations and hopes of the nation in the twenty20 World Cup”.

Har raat, har subha

Dekha hai khwaab yeh

Saara hindustaan

Saara hindustaan

Jagoo India...

Deepak Warrier, a BTech student of Federal Institute of Science and Technology, Kochi, has lent the tune. The speedster, famous for his on-field jigs, acts the song along with Madhu Balakrishnan and team of models. The album was shot at different locations in the country.

Reports say Sreesanth is aiming to make an impact with his slower ball in South Africa, where he caught the eye on tour nine months ago.

“I’ve basically been working on my slower ball. Twenty20 is about four overs per bowler and if I get my slower balls in the right areas, you end up getting a lot of wickets,” he told a journal recently.

The video is likely to be shown on TV channels during the SA tour. He is looking forward to playing in his hometown Kochi in the ensuing one-day series against Australia.

Asked at a school gathering in New Delhi recently about his impromptu dance after hitting a straight six against tall, imposing South African pace bowler Andre Nel during last year’s Test series, Sreesanth replied: “It wasn’t a dance, it was more like riding a horse”. That’s the kind of mood in which the 24-yearold is at the moment.