Jonty Rhodes is embarrassed. The former South African cricketer and current fielding coach of the IPL team Mumbai Indians, is a diehard Indophile. He plays cricket – but lives, dreams, and breathes India. Jonty and wife Melanie named their daughter who was born in Mumbai during the 2015 IPL season “India” because they admire the rich culture and geographical diversity of the country and find it very spiritual and forward-thinking.
But Jonty doesn’t see too many Bollywood films. Or know any Bollywood songs. And the renowned player who goes down in sporting history as one of the greatest fielders of all time is aware that in India – films and cricket are the opium of the people. He’s embarrassed that he’s lacking in one of these two passions. “I must confess I don’t watch a lot of Bollywood films, which is terrible and something that I have to change,” Jonty confessed to Peeping Moon.com yesterday at advertiser Fahim Batliwala’s United Cricket Bash where he is a mentor and ambassador.
Yet, Jonty has salvaged brownie points for himself by meeting the two Bollywood superstars who have made mainstream commercial films on cricket – Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar. Jonty admits that he’s not seen Aamir’s Lagan or Akshay’s Patiala House, both sports dramas in which the actors use cricket as their theme, but he has fond memories of his meetings with them.
“Through the IPL I met Aamir Khan who’s highly respected for the work he does,” Jonty said. But it his meeting with Akshay Kumar that Jonty will never forget. “He’s got the strongest handshake I have ever come across,” Jonty recalled in awe. “Akshay’s a man who comes up to you and shakes your hand – so be very careful. He’s a strong man!”
Of the United Cricket Bash, he said, “We are now in Season 2 and after the success of Season 1 we will keep taking this to the next level. Something which is bigger and better and from here we are going to grow. I am the mentor, ambassador for the league. I’m not with any particular side. I’m just making sure that people are having fun.”
As for India – the country and his daughter who is two-and-half – Jonty said, “India is very well, obviously, the country is in good shape and the economy is slightly Ok-Ok and is getting there. But my daughter is amazing. She’s back in South Africa and doing good. We plan to come back to India in November as she hasn't been here since the IPL. She’s missing her home. This is where she was born. The land of her birth and her name. She's desperate to come back.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oWmj6cb00E&feature=youtu.be
