Former Aussie captain, Steve Waugh seems to have caught the IPL bug, though his loyalties keep changing depending on the city he's in and the number of Australian players in the team

In a league of his own

Former Aussie captain, Steve Waugh seems to have caught the IPL bug, though his loyalties keep changing depending on the city he's in and the number of Australian players in the team. It's the Mumbai Indians when he's here and the Kolkata Knight Riders when he's in the West Bengal capital. Steve, who was recently in Mumbai to promote 6UP, a mobile game that contributes towards the Steve Waugh Foundation, speaks to CS about his connection with India and of course, cricket:

Waugh of the worlds
The IPL fever certainly seems to have gripped India. I follow it whenever I can. The IPL has also gone a long way in uniting countries. Racism stories keep floating around, but I feel that the media has blown up the issue out of proportion. Australia is a friendly nation, and you would be able to vouch for that if you've visited our country. I guess somewhere common sense needs to prevail. I might have retired before the T20 format caught on, but I would have loved to try my hand at it. In fact, I'm still available (he flashes his trademark smile.) But having said that, I think one needs to get back to the game for the right reasons. You can't make a comeback just for monetary gains. A deep love for the sport should pull you to it.

Just kidding!
My heart is with my foundation that works with children afflicted with rare diseases. I like children and do my bit to help them lead better lives. I haven't ever put pressure on fellow cricketers to do what I am doing. I feel that your heart has to be in what you're doing; no one can force you to do charity. Cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble have always been involved in charity, but they've been pretty low-key about it. But yes, this is one area that Indian cricketers could work on.

India calling
I feel a deep connection with your country because I've worked closely with the leprosy affected children in Kolkata. But India has changed in a lot of ways. The youngsters here have become very brand and fashion conscious. They care about the mobile phone that they're using and the shoes that they're wearing. India has become very westernised in that regard, but it still holds its unique charm. It's a country like no other u2014 the people here are really warm and there's something about this country that keeps drawing me to it. I love this place.