Dilip Doshi at 75: Cricket, fitness and The Rolling Stones

Dilip Doshi is not a young man anymore In fact he is 75 today But the manner in which the former India leftarm spin bowler has maintained his fitness levels hersquoll give the fittest of youths a run for their moneyDoshi was more fortunate and younger than Rajinder Goel and Padmakar Shivalkar two domestic stalwarts who couldnrsquot get into the Indian team due to the presence of the great Bishan Singh BediHe debuted for India after Bedirsquos 1979 exit from international cricket and grabbed the opportunity admirablyIndiarsquos Kapil Dev Dilip Doshi and Dilip Vengsarkar right celebrate the dismissal of Australiarsquos Jim Higgs in the 198081 Melbourne Test which India won by 59 runs PicGetty ImagesBedi eventually became a national selector and it was his committee that dropped the bespectacled spinner in 198384 the season in which Doshi played the last of his 33 TestsDoshi became a successful businessman living in the United Kingdom with his family which includes son Nayan also a leftarm spinner who played for Surrey and SaurashtraDoshi Sr has always been a fan of The Rolling Stones the legendary rock group who he got close toOnly recently he posted a photograph of himself browsing through some Stonesrsquo memorabilia in Londonmiddaycom caught up with Doshi on Tuesday for this special birthday interviewExcerptsHow does it feel to be 75You take every day as it comes and practically keep doing what you are doing People before me older than me have always mentioned that age is just a number You just have to do what you have to do Thatrsquos the basic philosophy Irsquom very happy that Irsquove been able to do a lot of things that I wanted toLife is all about being functional and I think itrsquos very important that you retain functional fitness for life It means a lotSo whatrsquos your fitness regimeWell the best way I have found in years is brisk walking walking everywhereI do yoga and pilates a mixture of yoga and pilates and donrsquot forget pilates is based on yoga I do it three to four times So yoga and pilates and walking everyday mdash wherever and as much as I canIrsquove been vegan for 16 years now Irsquove always been a vegetarian Irsquove taken dairy products out of my life or any products related to animalsHow do you divide your time between Mumbai and UKIrsquom doing some projects My current commitments take me back to UK and Europe Being in London and travelling to Europe is much easier I spend half the time here and half there dividing time as much as possible I love being at home in Mumbai India is home Irsquom also at home in London so generally itrsquos a good feelingAlso ReadDilip Doshi turns 75 with eleganceWould it be right to say you are a very successful businessmanIrsquom an entrepreneurial person I donrsquot like taking no for an answer I like to do things that are challenging but achievableTo that extent being in a familyoriented business you have to find your own niche Irsquove been lucky so far and Irsquom continuing doing the same thingsWhat has been the best moment of your cricketing careerIt was a short but eventful career We won many series and games including ODIs The whole period was very eventful I look back at the whole purpose of contributing to the teamrsquos victories with a great sense of satisfactionIf I were to single out playing at Melbourne in 1981 and squaring a short series was memorable To bowl 74 overs with a fractured foot was very satisfyingYou have been close to The Rolling Stones Whatrsquos your favourite Stones trackItrsquos hard to say when you have been listening to them for 60 years Basically Irsquom a blues and Stones fan and the Stonesrsquo music is based on the blues The Rolling Stones offer me everything that I want to hear I love seeing them live Every time I go to a Stones concert I marvel and realise what energy they bring to life Creativity means a lot to themFor me Midnight Rambler when played live is possibly the greatest opera on stage and Midnight Rambler live can offer everything what blues and rock and roll can offer in one song Itrsquos 12 to 14 minuteshellip itrsquos theatre