South Africa batsman JP Duminy has recently revealed about his spiritual journey which started four years ago as a reborn Christian. Later last year, the 33-year-old Duminy retired from Test cricket and is currently concentrating on white-ball cricket only.
In an exclusive interview with Mumbai Mirror, Duminy said that his life has totally changed ever since he accepted Jesus as his Lord and savior.
"Four years ago I was reborn as a Christian and my spiritual journey started from there. It has been a satisfying journey, my morals and values have changed. Now, it is about making a commitment, you accept Jesus as your Lord and savior. It has been an amazing journey since," Duminy told Mumbai Mirror at a Newlands corporate box during the first Test between India and South Africa.
Considering the fact that Duminy still plays limited-overs cricket for South Africa beside playing franchise cricket all over the world, it must be tough for the southpaw to balance the on-field aggression with the compassion that he wants to spread off the field.
Answering the same, Duminy said: "I don't think you have to be one or the other. Because of your faith, you won't necessarily have to be less competitive on the field. I still have an aggressive attitude to the game. No matter what your faith and mindset are, any sportsman wants to give his best and I am no different. Playing for your country and being competitive are not going to compromise your values."
In contrast to his current disciplined life, JP Duminy used to party hard, drink ceaselessly in his early youth days. However, one day he realized that all this was not giving him any sense of fulfillment.
"I always had a feeling that I was missing something. That emptiness is no longer there. I have filled that gap. There are no more excessive drinking and excessive partying," said Duminy.
The veteran Proteas batsman also feels that his disturbed childhood might be reason for this drastic change in his life.
"It could be because of my disturbed childhood," he opens up. "I was fortunate that I grew up in a community (Mitchell Plain in Cape Town has been recently reported as the worst crime-prone area in South Africa) which is plagued by gangsterism and all sorts of crimes and abuse.
"Fortunately, I did not get involved. That's why I started my initiative (JP 21Project). I want to take the kids of the area away from the negative influences of the community. I also want to show them that they have different options than what they have in their lives. It is not necessary that the options are what they see in front of them. In that process, there is an opportunity for raw talent to come through," concluded Duminy.
