Meeting the Dalai Lama has been my best experience in India: Stephen Fleming

Cricketer/Coach Stephen Fleming talks about his nickname, his favourite wine and the liveliest character in the Cheenai Super Kings dressing room, in an exclusive interview with Brunch.

In county cricket, they referred to you as The Boss.

What was sharing a nickname with Bruce Springsteen like?

Pretty flattering. At one point, I used to have a lot of his music and obviously,

Born in the USA was on my iPod.



Who is the liveliest character in the Chennai Super Kings dressing room?

Apart from the Indians – Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni – Muttiah Muralitharan and

Makhaya Ntini come to mind. Then there’s Faf du Plessis, who brings a sense of fashion and vanity to the team.



How so?

Well, he thinks he is the Giorgio Armani of cricket. Now he has taken it upon himself to give me style tips. Going by his advice, I’ve added a little bit of a taper to my trousers.



After a long day at work, what do you love to gorge on?

Seafood and wine.



Which wine do you like the most?

Any pinot wine from Queenstown is great. The sauvignon blanc from Marlborough is another of my favourites.



Which is the most picturesque stadium you’ve played in?

Pukekura Park in New Plymouth, New Zealand, is surrounded by native bush.

It is the prettiest ground in the world.



What do you miss about New Zealand?

When I am home in Christchurch, I lead a slower life.

We have about eight acres of land and I like being outside with the kids, experiencing farm life and playing golf.







What’s the best experience you have had in India?

I had the privilege of meeting the Dalai Lama.



How do you expect India to do at the World Cup in February?

Two months before that happens, the team will go Down Under to play against Australia. |

If they win against them, they will carry some of that confidence into the World Cup.



How active are you on social media?

I just use Twitter as a news-feed. I am an infrequent tweeter but have about 120,000 followers.

Some handles I follow include @BBCBreaking, @SkySportNZ

and, if you don’t mind my language, @WhatTheF Facts.

From HT Brunch, November 16
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