From the albums

Karnataka has the rare privilege of playing the first Ranji Trophy match in India in November 1934. That match also turned out to be a good one, with 30 wickets falling in one day and Mysore losing the match to Madras in a single day.

Karnataka has come a long way in Indian cricket and is now acknowledged as one of the most powerful cricket teams, one feared by all opponents. Many have contributed to this transformation — players, administrators, the cricket-loving public and employees of the cricket association.

It has been a long and difficult journey that I am happy to have been a part of, first as a player and then as an administrator.

It started in 1959, when I was chosen to play for a junior match between Mysore and Madras and a brilliant century in that match made it easy for me to get into the Ranji Trophy side and stay there for 10 long years before retiring. After a few years’ break, I entered Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) as an administrator and worked to the best of my ability in various capacities. I retired a few years ago as the vice-president of KSCA.

Today, it is a well-run organisation, with set rules, a beautiful stadium, fabulous clubhouse and more than 3,000 members enjoying the facilities and the game of cricket frequently.

But it was a difficult journey then, with no ground that the association could call its own. The Central College grounds were used as the headquarters and games were also played at various other college and school grounds.

With no money to run cricket matches and expecting everyone to do a good job, the president and the secretary had a hard time running KSCA. S A Srinivasan, M Chinnaswamy, Captain Thimmappiah and C Nagaraj were the stalwarts who built the infrastructure for the present-day KSCA.

The presidents and secretaries sacrificed their personal lives and professions to spend time on the cricket grounds. Even in such difficult situations, KSCA magnanimously contributed to the various causes of the state. This rare photograph was taken on one such occasion for the Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund that was organised at the Central College grounds.

The then Ranji Trophy players played in several places like Tumkur, Shimoga and Kolar and raised funds for the cause. Many stalwarts seen in this photograph have left for their heavenly abode while many others have been forgotten. But a few are still active and working for the cause of cricket.

While I was playing for the Ranji Trophy, I was also picked to represent the Mysore University cricket team. Only two universities existed then — Mysore and Karnataka, headquartered in the Hubballi/Dharwad region. Mysore University consisted of all colleges in the old Mysore area.
I was a student of Bangalore Medical College and represented the university for four consecutive years. During the last two, I was the captain. We always had an excellent team and in 1962, we won the All-India Championship for Rohinton Baria Trophy, playing in the biting cold of Kanpur (two degree centigrade).

Almost everyone on those teams went on to play for the Ranji Trophy. I was also fortunate to be selected for the All-India University team against the visiting Australian cricket team, led by late Richi Benaud.
Two of my teammates P R Ashok Anand (present president of KSCA) and Deepak Das Gupta also played in that match.

Deepak Das Gupta was a fine off-spinner and has now settled down in Kolkata. Nearly all the players went on to become highly-qualified professionals in India and abroad and have done well in their respective spheres.

I was also fairly successful in the Ranji Trophy matches, becoming the captain of the Karnataka cricket team and scoring over 1,000 runs which was an achievement in those days.
As the players were not paid in those days, a majority retired early to pursue their chosen professions. I also retired early to take up my medical practice.

Today, university cricket has lost its stature with too many universities and with cricket becoming professionalised. I feel fortunate to have been among the few who savoured the true spirit of the game, surrounded by so many wonderful players.

(The author can be contacted on 9845127495)

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Metrolife / by Dr.S. Krishnamurthy / November 21st, 2016