Gladiator of Indian Cricket Gone RIP

Imagine leading a team when the ex captain Nari Contractor was felled by a vicious bouncer from Charlie Griffith.  It required the guts of a Nawab to don the robe of a gladiator and lead a team team filled with seniors such as Polly Umrigar, Vijay Merchant, Farukh Engineer etc.  Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi did not flinch the responsibility rather he must have enjoyed the tenure of captaincy leading the Indian cricket for the next decade.  The most high point of his leadership came when the team won over New Zealand in 1967.


Pataudi had the talent of spotting winners.  He realised that Indian team was not blessed with pace bowlers, its strength lay in spinners.  He groomed Bedi and Prasanna and inducted Chandrashekar and Venkat to make a lethal combination in Indian bowling attack.  The real fruit was harvested by Ajit Wadekar during his famous tour of  West Indies 1971 and England 1972-73  He spotted also spotted the little wizard in Gundappa Vishwanth and gave him a break into Indian team in 1969 against Australia, wherein he scored a duck and century.

Just imagine playing the fearsome pace attack of  Griffith and Halls without much protection.  One can check out in the photographs without helmet, elbow guard or thigh pads, which are basic essential part of the cricket This is precisely the gladiator quality of the Nawab which is difficult to emulate considering the fact that he had lost one eye in a car accident. He was literally seeing two balls, and he used to play the inner one by sheer anticipation and judgement.

 
Wesley Halls                                           M.L. Jaisimha  ( Pataudi's close friend )


 

G R Vishwanth ( 1969 - 1983 ) Pataudi's find    Nari Contractor Injury resulted in Pataudi's captaincy


 

Cricket which was earlier dominated by Mumbai club was de-centralised by Pataudi to represent pan India. Cricketers were chosen by merit across the length and breadth of the country.  This obviously won him some critics from the powerful lobby.

Pataudi glamorised Indian cricket by marrying bollywood Diva Sharmila Tagore on 27th December 1969.  He is blessed with star son Saif Ali Khan, and actress Soha Ali Khan along with a jewellery designer in Saba.  Pataudi was known to play some pranks with his colleagues off the field.  It was all in good humour, in one such instance Prasanna was alleged to have been shot dead by dacoits, and this sent shivers down the spine of  Vishy and Chandrashekar, who were sobbing.

A true legend finally breathe his last on 22nd September 2011.  He symbolised glamour and gladiator quality of Indian Cricket in an era when draw test was considered to be victory of sorts.  He will be remembered as a fine gentlemen cricketer who gave up snobbishness ( being from Royal Background ) to take Indian cricket to great heights with his fielding prowess and leadership quality.  Hats Off to the Nawab RIP.


ACK : Wiki, Hindu, TOI.

Saturday Blues

The day began on a sombre note with Tia being moody and Suresh called up and cancelled the city market trip.  Oh my dear all plans for the day is going awry.  After dropping my wife to the bank i took off and visited the Hanuman temple which is a saturday routine of sorts.  I headed to submit my address proof to IDEA.

I reached their Richmond road office and pleasantly surprised to find no customers, otherwise i would had to wait in the queue.  I was quickly attended by Vinodh Kumar, who apparently wanted to get rid of me.  I told him that i had sent a complaint for his unfriendly attitude.  He acknowledged the same.  I filled in the form and handed over the xerox copy of the passport copy with date mentioned.  I asked him out of curiousity what is the turnover of the company, he said no IDEA, what an Idea.....when you say no IDEA, the advt scream that you go for IDEA network.  Last time too when i visited the IDEA office i had asked the same question, i thought they will improve in polishing their knowledge about their company ( i mean our company being a shareholder i have to take the onus too Lolz )  I had to follow up with investors relations to guide them, and plus introduce the electronic mailing of  Annual reports.

Then i had two options, before that i thought i will purchase some Pizza and bread for my guest, i went to the nearby Koshy bakery and packed a few for the breakfast and bites in the evening.  Next i dropped the idea of going to city market and proceeded to Mantri Mall.   Hey come on my amenesia is taking over i suppose.  I stopped at Brigade road and advised the guard manning to introduce reverse parking which would to a large extent decongest traffic snarls.  He helplessly nodded that he will inform his seniors i doubt it, got to follow up next time around.

While proceeding towards Mantri Mall i came across, the RCB team bus with police escort proceeding to KSCA.  Almost a Z security is being provided by the police to the players.  The bus driver happened to inexperienced i reached faster than him and found that due to priority siren they over took me near the KSCA stadium.  But he could not turn i caught him in my cell camera, with cops too wondering, and such careless driving would be a security threat i thought.  Nevertheless with one escort behind and one in front the risk was minimised.

On reaching Mantri mall for my Tia 's chops, i found there was no stock.  I picked up soup bones and my quota of drink and rushed towards purchase of  Mushrooms and Patravade.  Then while returning i went to Chikka tirupati temple and had dharsan of the lord. I was lucky to pick up ladoos and than proceeded back to the pavilion.  I tried to Insert IDEA sim card it would not work.  Go get Idea helpline, now back to NOKIA Showroom for back up support.