With a stance many term crab-like, Shivnarine Chanderpaul isn't a purist’s delight. Hailing from Guyana, his father, not surprisingly, wanted Chanderpaul to be the next Alvin Kallicharran. Apart from the fact that both are left-handers and are of Indian descent, there is little in common between the two. While Kallicharran was all grace and poise that comes as a package for southpaws, Chanderpaul is anything but beautiful with a bat in hand.

"As a young fellow, I didn't see much cricket, we were living in a country area. Those days, there was no TV in the country, TV came a bit late to Guyana. My father said that he would try and teach me to play like Alvin Kallicharran, that's all I can remember of those early days," says Chanderpaul.

He may not have inherited all that his illustrious country-mate had, but along with fellow Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan, he is carrying forward a great legacy left behind by the batsmen of Indian origin. He is aware of the expectations from his community, which is more West Indian now than it was before, but at the same time pragmatic. "The big names are there, the legends of West Indian cricket, and sometimes it does play on your mind. People expect so much of you but you can only go out and do what you can do. You cannot do what the other guys have done in the past," he states. 

Unique record

While there is no debate that Chanderpaul isn't the greatest West Indian batsman with Indian roots, he holds the unique record of being the first and only East Indian to have won 100 Test caps to date. "It feels great to cross that milestone. When I started, nobody thought that I would be around so long," he notes.

Chanderpaul's forefathers left Indian shores so long ago that he isn't aware of his exact roots in India. "It's so far back that we don't know about any relatives being here," he admits. But Indian culture is still deeply entrenched in the migrant community. Chanderpaul is a practising Hindu and worships Shiva. "Do you know any Shiva temple here?" he asks you as you probe his roots. He also reads a lot of religious texts. "It’s got to be more on Shiva and the Gita," he reveals. 

Currently based in Bangalore as part of the Royal Challengers squad in the Indian Premier League, the batsman is enjoying the crowd support but adds quickly that he has always been popular in this part of world.
"It's better than when I came here earlier. People are now actually cheering for you more. But then, I cannot complain because even when I came on international tours, they always used to cheer me. Now it’s more so because I am playing for Bangalore," he points out.

Unorthodox

The owner of some of the most unorthodox techniques – if you can call it so -- has shown that it is possible to be successful at the highest level without possessing all that a copybook teaches you. But the constant criticism about his technique rather than appreciating what he has done with his bat -- over 7,000 Test runs with an average on the higher side of 40 and an equally impressive ODI career – almost forced him to tinker with his style.

"I have heard all kinds of comments. But I am of the opinion that if your technique is working for you, you should try and better it. Sometimes I open up a little too wide, and you cannot do much if you get too wide. Then you try to get back to where you were. It is about getting the (right) stance that will keep me still and balanced," the 33-year-old explains.   
                       
Like Kallicharran, who got the captaincy following Clive Llyod's resignation after the Kerry Packer series controversy, Chanderpaul too was elevated as West Indian skipper after Brian Lara quit the post following the player contracts row. But as has been the case with all West Indian captains after Viv Richards, Chanderpaul wasn't a great success, accused in fact of being too passive on the field.

"I tried my best, probably it might have been helpful if fellows (team-mates) could have been more co-operative.
“I had enough of it and I thought I will sacrifice it and maybe let it go to someone else. Now I have more time to focus on my game and it helps," he remarks.

For someone who comes across as an unassuming character both on and off the field, the nickname Tiger may seem a bit incongruous. Not even the antiglare patches right below his eyes give him the makeover of that ferocious animal. But then, looks can be deceptive. Who would have put his money on Chanderpaul to hit a last-ball six off Chaminda Vaas to take Windies home by a wicket against Sri Lanka in their recent one-day series?