Vizzy

We mentioned in an earlier article about the magnanimity of Natwarsinhji and Ghanashyamsinhji, the respective Maharajas of Porbandar and Limbdi, on the tour of Britain in 1932. We also discussed the outstanding cricket ability of another ‘royalty’, Yadavendra Singh, the Yuvraj of Patiala. While on the subject of royal personages in Indian cricket, let us concentrate on another ‘royal’ personality at the other extreme.

On India’s tour to England in 1936 the picture was completely reversed. This time the captain-elect was the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram, Gajapati Vijaya Anand Raju, popularly known as Vizzy. Vizzy fancied himself to be a capable cricketer, although he had no result to show his prowess as a batsman or as a captain. He manipulated the powers-that-be to such an extent that the selectors actually announced his name as the captain of the India team to tour Britain in 1936.

He played in all the three Tests in England thereby weakening the national team. His was a disastrous influence on the team. Incident after incident marred the 1936 tour: the Lala Amarnath fiasco; the controversial selection of Baqa Jilani and the Mushtaq –Merchant attempted conspiracy.

Lala Amarnath began the 1936 tour with his breezy style of cricket. He was doing exceptionally well with the bat as well as with the ball. In the match against the Minor Counties, skipper Vizzy kept changing Amarnath’s batting order repeatedly. Amarnath, all padded-up and ready to bat, was fuming at the insulting scenario. He threw down his bat and used some choicest Punjabi slang.

The manager Brittain-Jones and the captain Vizzy made a big hue and cry over the incident and ordered Amarnath to pack his bag and go back to India! Some well-meaning players approached the captain and the manager to forgive the young and impressionable Amarnath. But to no avail. He was sent back from the tour just prior to the start of the Test series. The first Test cricketer to face such humiliation. Later BCCI absolved Lala Amarnath of all charges and he was back in the India team.

While Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Merchant were involved in a big opening partnership in the Manchester Test and going great guns, skipper Vizzy actually requested Mushtaq to run out Merchant! Mushtaq, of course, declined to carry out the strange request. In the process he lost out on a gold-plated wrist watch as gift from Vizzy!

Just before the 3^rd and final Test at the Oval, skipper Vizzy offered a Test place to whoever would abuse and insult his main player CK Nayudu in public! Fast bowler Baqa Jilani took up the offer, gave a mouthful to CK Nayudu at the breakfast table on the opening day of the Test match and went on to make his debut at the Oval. Shute Banerjee, a man of strict principles, with far superior performance on the tour, was omitted from the XI because he did not curse and humiliate CK!

This was Indian cricket at one time. Two extremes running parallel to one another. Our cricket historians have not bothered to herald the magnanimous, selfless gesture of Natwarsinhji but have remembered Vizzy’s disgraceful nature! Strange are the ways of cricket and cricketers in India.

However in all fairness to Vizzy, we must readily acknowledge his contribution to Indian cricket. He was a very devoted patron of cricket. He was genuinely devoted towards the game. He had his own team and organized matches in various cities. Spent generously on cricket and cricketers.  Even went to the extent of inviting Sir Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe to India to play for his invitational team around the sub-continent.

But the desire to manipulate to fulfil his cherished dream – the ambition to lead India – spoilt the man’s reputation for ever. He should have been rational enough to realize that he did not even deserve to be in the India Test team, far less to be the captain. His enormous influence helped him to become the cricket captain of India!

The national selectors at the time were all prominent cricketers: ‘commoner’ HD Kanga and the two ‘royals’ Iftikar Ali Khan Pataudi and KS Duleepsinhji. They certainly did not do justice to the responsibility placed on them. Highly prejudiced and insensitive, they were. They omitted deserving players to include mediocre cricketers thereby weakened the national team. Readers who feel Test players would make capable selectors, take note. One’s integrity is far more important than one’s cricket ability to become an unbiased selector.

In later years Vizzy was a constant factor on All India Radio as a commentator. Well-versed in the history of cricket and its folklore, Vizzy regaled his listeners with his remarkable memory.

I personally would prefer to remember Vizzy as a great patron of Indian cricket and as an erudite commentator. How I wish he had gone with the 1936 Indian team to England as manager and not as captain.