My father pushes me to become a better player, says Tagenarine

Every time Tagenarine Chanderpaul makes his way into the middle, he carries the weight of a surname that is etched in cricket fanatics’ hearts.

No day on the pitch passes by without the mention of his father Shivnarine Chanderpaul, a legendary figure in the world game. Unfortunately for the West Indies opener, he has not kicked on in his Test career after entering the international arena with promise.

Four years into his journey with the Men in Maroon, Tagenarine has come to terms with the constant comparisons with his dad but is striving to create a name for himself.

“Wherever I go, people expect me to perform as good as him. But I cannot be him, I can only be myself,” the 30-year-old told The Hindu recently. “He was a great player, but I just try to be myself. As an individual, I do the best I can.”

While Tagenarine wades through challenges, Shivnarine, as both a father and mentor, attempts to make the former’s path easier.

“He shares his knowledge and experience to make me a better player. He is a very competitive and serious guy. He keeps pushing me to get better,” said the southpaw.

Tagenarine, lucky enough to be taught a masterclass on a regular basis, knows where is lacking: he has just one ton and two half-centuries in 15 long-format matches (758 runs). “I need to be more consistent, convert starts into big scores. Sometimes, you get comfortable in the middle and get out. But Test cricket is tough… there is no time to relax,” the top-order batter added.

His stint at the Super Kings Academy — in the company of West Indies red-ball teammates — may be the launchpad for bigger things ahead. “I always believe in putting in the work, so hopefully I can reap the rewards of it”.