'I have always wanted to visit the Taj Mahal'

Off the pitch

What almost instantly strikes you about South African international cricketer and Kings XI Punjab player Farhaan Behardien are his warm and friendly ways.

Known as a fearless batsman, Farhaan has a remarkable batting style that owes it all to his early moorings in the game and his perseverance in the face of slow recognition.

Born in Johannesburg, Farhaan moved to Cape Town where he was raised. “I always wanted to be a cricketer and worked towards it. My family was not very well-to-do but they supported me and helped me achieve my dream,” he recalls.Farhaan didn’t mind that recognition came to him rather late.

“I was a late bloomer and got recognition as a cricketer only in my late 20s but that hasn’t disappointed me. I have gained an immense amount of experience which will surely see me through any tough situation,” says the confident cricketer.

Farhaan also nostalgically says that one of the main reasons he chose to stick to his dream and achieve it was to show the way to a lot of youngsters in his hometown who were addicted to drugs. “I wanted to build a career in sports just to inspire young people in my hometown to follow suit. I wanted them to work towards building a better future,” he says.

The South African cricketer says his parents are members of a small cricket club back home and he often interacts with aspiring cricketers, giving them a few tips about the game.

“I impart to young people, who I meet at the cricketer club, knowledge of what I have learnt,” he adds.

Farhaan is in his debut season with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is soaking in every bit of the marquee event. “Indians are set to a different kind of thinking and I must say that people in every corner of India are not only hospitable and warm but also extremely tolerant,” he observes.

He also feels India is an accommodating country where people from different parts of the world can reside in peace. Farhaan says he has spent the longest time touring India, given that the IPL was preceded by the  ICC World Twenty20. He also had his parents and girlfriend Jenna visit him during the IPL when he made time to go sight-seeing with them.

“When we were in Chandigarh, we visited the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden. We also sampled some authentic Hyderabadi biryani,” he says.

The must-see places on his list before returning after the IPL season are the Taj Mahal and Dharamsala. “I have always wanted to visit the Taj Mahal and there’s something very serene about the mountains in Dharamsala that beckons me all the time. I’ve been there before but I can never get enough of the place,” he says.

Farhaan, though, is not knew to Indian food. “My mother makes the most amazing ‘daal’ and biryani. I am used to Indian food. It’s our staple diet back home,” he shares.

Shopping has also been an integral part of Farhaan’s outings. “My mother wanted some scarves and my girlfriend wanted me to buy her a sari which I did. To me, the sari looks a little complicated but Jenna had some of her friends help her wear it,” he says. “She now wants to wear a sari for our wedding,” he signs off with a smile.