Paul Valthaty loves his new wheels

Unlike his aggressive batting style, IPL star Paul Valthaty says he isn't a rash driver

Paul Valthaty loves his new wheels

Unlike his aggressive batting style, IPL star Paul Valthaty says he isn't a rash driver

In stark contrast to his brazen stroke-play on the cricket field, Paul Valthaty is a very safe driver on the road.

In yet another contrasting revelation, he told MiD DAY yesterday that he's not ridden a bike either, moments after being presented with the keys to brand new Volkswagen Passat for being the 'best performer' of the recently-concluded fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Kings XI Punjab's Paul Valthaty with his new car

Having amassed a whopping 463 runs from 14 games in IPL-IV, the 27-year-old Kings XI Punjab opening batsman (who also took seven wickets with his medium pace) was easily the find of the tournament. However, he had under-estimated his performance nevertheless.

"I never expected to win this award... there were a lot of other good performers in the IPL too," a modest Valthaty said.

The shy, soft-spoken Air-India employee is not new to plush four-wheelers though being the owner of a Chevrolet Cruize already. But he's excited about his new set of wheels nevertheless.

"I took it for a bit of a spin during the handover ceremony and it's a fabulous drive. I can't wait for it to be delivered to my home," said Valthaty, who has no qualms of driving on Mumbai's pot-hole ridden, traffic-laden streets.

"I've learnt my driving on these very roads six years ago, when I picked my father's brains to let me drive his Maruti Suzuki Baleno. So, I have no qualms about driving in Mumbai. In fact, I'm so used to the numerous khaddas (potholes) that I've begun to like them now," he said.

No bikes
However, two-wheelers are not Valthaty's cup of tea. "I don't know how to ride one and that's why I don't own one," he honestly admitted. "I can't get a hold of those gears fitted on to the two wheelers, I can negotiate a Kinetic Honda (gearless) however," he claimed.

Valthaty has been told that the car will be delivered to him in a few days, after the paperwork and other formalities are completed. However, he flies out to participate in the inaugural T20 Premier League (July 19-August 4) sometime next week and hopes the car arrives before that.

"I hope I get the new car before I leave for Sri Lanka, else my mind will be here even as I'm physically
present there," he said in lighter vein.