Rajasthan Royals' star all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham took some time out from his pre-IPL training camps and had a chat with mid-day.com where he talks about Harbhajan Singh being his inspiration while taking up cricket and about India's chances in the World Cup.

How did you to take up cricket in your childhood? What role did your family play in you becoming a cricketer?
It all began when I was about 14 or 15 years, I went to the school ground one morning and I saw the school team practising wearing pads, gloves and playing which fascinated me quite a bit and I wanted to play. But the school selections were just two weeks away, by then I was only playing a little tennis ball cricket in the backyard with my brothers. But that was my turning point and I started my career as medium-pacer in the school itself, and since the time I saw Harbhajan Singh’s action, I started to imitate him, that’s when it all started. Soon after, I went to the zonal selection and was picked up. As a matter of fact, my Dad was unaware that I played cricket in school, it was my Mum who encouraged me and took me to training sessions.