I've Worked Hard to Get Here, Why Shouldn't I Express Myself on the Field: Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir emerged as the spinner with most wickets in the recently concluded 2015 Cricket World Cup. And the South African leg spinner has carried on that good form in the IPL too, as he leads the tally of wicket-takers in the billion dollar league. But his wicket taking ability is not the only one thing that has caught the eye of cricket fans, his trademark celebrations are also the talk of the town; highlighting the passion with which the leg-spinner plays his cricket.(Delhi Thrash Punjab by 9 Wickets)

"It is my love and passion for the game, I always wanted to play cricket at the highest level and and now that I have reached here after a lot of hard work why shouldn't I express myself?", he told NDTV, when asked to elaborate on his football style celebrations on the cricket pitch.(IPL 2015: Full Coverage)

For those who know his story, Tahir's enthusiasm on the field is not hard to comprehend. His journey from the streets of Lahore to playing International cricket for South Africa wasn't an easy one: Born in Pakistan, he traveled to South Africa to play the under-19 World Cup, falling in love with a local girl named Sumayya Dildar at the time. He then had to endure a 8-year long wait before he could return to the rainbow nation and marry the woman he loved. Aged 27 and faced with an uncertain future, Tahir played club cricket in South Africa to begin with, gradually moving up the ranks and eventually earning the Proteas' cap in 2011, at the age of 32. The rest as they say his history: Today, the leggie has over 100 international scalps to his credit.

"I will give my wife the credit for where I have reached today. Even when I had nothing, she was with me. I appreciate that and I am sure she knows it", he says in an exclusive chat.

Currently, Tahir is enjoying his time with the Delhi Daredevils, his second season in the IPL. He stands on top of the wickets tally and along with Amit Mishra, the two make one of the most lethal spinning pairs in the IPL. But it's not just Mishra whose tips are benefiting Tahir, "Yuvraj Singh is a legend. I speak to him often about Indian conditions and how does one bowl here, that has helped me a lot. Yuvi paaji is great is all I can say"

Leg spinners have always been an elusive breed in cricket. And if this rare art is coming back into fashion then Imran Tahir can certainly claim some credit for that.

(with inputs from Mahavir Rawat)