IPL: How Shane Warne ‘fixed’ Mohammed Kaif’s ego in a hotel reception in 2008 | Ipl News
Spin legend Shane Warne had set an early benchmark in the Indian Premier League as one of the league’s most prolific overseas captains. Despite only leading Australia in 11 international matches back in 1998-99, Warne lit up the IPL’s early years with his exemplary man-management skills before progressing to other management roles after retirement in 2013.
Even as the late Aussie spin wizard led a less-glamourous and unlikely Rajasthan Royals to the title win over Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, Warne had to manage jumbo-sized egos in the squad to cut the route to the trophy. Though the RR squad did not host many high-profile local players, Warne was quick to realise his first lesson when former India batter Mohammed Kaif raised a tantrum at the team hotel reception early in the season.
An attitude adjustment
“It was Mohammad Kaif who, unknowingly, brought our attention to something that needed fixing straight away,” wrote Warne in his 2018 autobiography, ‘No Spin’.
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“When we checked into the hotel as the Rajasthan Royals group, everyone got their room key and disappeared. Minutes later, while I was chatting with the owners in reception, I noticed Kaif go to the front desk and say, ‘I am Kaif?’ ‘Yes,’ said the reception.
‘How can we help?’ ‘I am Kaif.’
“I went over. ‘Everything alright, mate?’ I asked. ‘Yes, I am Kaif?’
“‘I think they know who you are, mate, what do you mean? What are you looking for?’ ‘I have got a little room like everyone else.’
“I said, ‘Right, okay. Do you want to upgrade yourself or something?’ ‘Yes, I’m Kaif.’ I knew exactly what he wanted: ‘I am a senior, an Indian international player, so I get a bigger room.’ Without trying to be funny, mate,’ I said, ‘everyone gets the same room. I’m the only one with a big room because I have to meet with people?’ ‘Oh. And off he walked.”Story continues below this ad
Warne also revealed how the Royals did not end up having a lot of other major Indian names in the squad back then, barring Kaif.
“It got interesting because the Royals philosophy was to give young kids a go. The biggest name Indian player we’d signed was Mohammad Kaif – hardly Sachin Tendulkar or MS Dhoni,” Warne wrote.
“What people didn’t understand was: why pay a massive $US650,000 for Mohammad Kaif? It was the auction process. If you missed out on two or three batsmen you wanted, you might get left with one you didn’t want so much, but have to buy him because there was a gap in your team to fill. You could be lucky or unlucky, pay under or over, depending on timing, demand and the vacancy that needed filling. It was what made the auction so exciting,” he added.
