Jaisimha: Grace and Graciousness personified

 

A most unusual cricketer. Loads of talent, but little by way of result. Disappointed many; yet huge fan following. Highly  erudite but unutilized by the media.

 

Jaisimha was all romance. Handsome of bearing and handsome of heart, he was the man who brought glamour to the game on Indian cricket grounds in the post-war period as did those wonderful stylish colleagues of his, Salim Durani and Tiger Pataudi.

                                       

Whatever the elegant Jaisimha did sent reverberations of excitement among the crowds. The way he spoke, the way he walked, the way he batted had a distinctive aura of its own. Even his bowling action was a sinewy, snake-dance! His mere presence reflected an aroma of elegance, of style, of originality so very essential for performing artistes.

 

As youngsters we tried to copy his walk! It appeared that he was perpetually stepping tip-toes across shards of broken glass! He always had his shirt-collar raised in a casual, carefree manner. His shirts never seemed to have the top three buttons!

 

Yes, Jaisimha was above all a performing artiste. A man who had the ability to help people feel relaxed after the careworn, monotonous lives they led every day. He gave the impression of perpetual youth, an eternal sense of adventure, a feeling of

exhilaration. Adonis in excelsis.

 

Even in the hard struggle of international cricket Jaisimha found the time and the desire to laugh on the field, to play daring shots and also to have an encouraging word or two for both friends and friendly foes. Apocryphal perhaps, but it was said that when he went in to bat flying kisses from the stands were planted on him!

 

So popular was he that many stories of him keep surfacing through telling and re-telling. It was said that even the umpires had a soft corner for him! Actually Jaisimha was very popular with all and sundry because of the kind of man he was: graceful and gracious.

 

Jaisimha was a man who attracted headlines. Appropriately enough, he made his debut at the Mecca of Cricket, The Lord's, and more significantly made his first international headlines at the iconic Eden Gardens, where 80,000 knowledgeable addicts unanimously gave him a standing ovation. Against Richie Benaud's star-studded Aussies in 1959-60 the young hero became the first cricketer ever to have batted on each day of a 5-day Test match.

 

Began his first-class cricket career for Hyderabad as a middle-order batsman in 1954. The class was apparent on the first day itself. Well-balanced, whether forward or back, he was at ease in defence as well as in attack. Rare reviews projected him into the Indian Starlets team on its tour of Pakistan. Some splendid performances across the border and in the Ranji Trophy championship helped him to board the flight to England with Dattajirao Gaekwad's team in 1959.

 

The disastrous tour notwithstanding, Jaisimha's progress as a batsman of promise and intelligence was a distinct plus point. He did not send the Thames on fire, but the young Indian's fire of ambition got its necessary fuel. He quickly grasped that the road to the top of international cricket was full of burning embers and only the toughest could survive the ordeal.

 

Back home he waited for another opportunity and when the opportunity did arrive to play the Australians at Calcutta, the handsome youth was ready to take on the opposition. Ray Lindwall, Alan Davidson, Ian Meckiff, Richie Benaud and Ken McKay hardly inconvenienced him as his dogged defence held them at bay for over after over, hour after hour, day after day.

 

Going in at number 9 on the first day towards the end, he batted with composure to remain not out with 20 when the Indian innings ended on the 2nd day. Then when India was struggling in the 2nd innings, young Jai was sent in at number 4 a little after tea on the 3rd day. From then on began an innings of attrition which has no parallel. He batted on and on, throughout the 4^th day and well after the lunch interval on the 5th day.

 

Even battle-scarred batters would have been proud of such a heroic display as this young man’s was. Certain in defence, equable in temperament, he was a man inspired. For the sake of his country Jaisimha sacrificed his natural aggressive style and helped to deny the Aussies an easy, expected victory. Batted for nearly a day and a half for just 71 runs!

 

Statistically it must be among the slowest on record, but believe it or not, not once did he appear to be pedestrian. Never before has a stone-waller received such an ovation. Even the hardened Aussies applauded his magnificent effort for they valued character then and they still do so now.

 

 Ironically far from looking dull, he looked extremely elegant as he middled ball after ball. Not a semblance of chance was offered; not once did he appear to be in any discomfort; never looked negative. So composed was he during the long vigil at the crease that when he drove two successive boundaries he hardly gave any suggestion of force. It was the Hyderabadi adaab culture at its best.

 

Within two years the same man was a totally different self. At Gardens now he was Genghiz Khan in full flight. Attacked Knight, Larter, Price and Titmus with such vehemence that more than once the bowler was on his haunches with hands on head as ball after ball screamed past him to the sight-screen. How can a self-respecting bowler have a fieldsman exactly behind his back in front of the sight-screen? But precisely that was the only way out to stop those scorchers.

 

Sheer murder, it was. But as Jaisimha walked back after his whirlwind century, I assure you, not a bead of sweat was on him, not a crease of his flannels out of place. Yes, he looked calm, unruffled, composed in the heat of aggression just as he looked elegance personified when gently caressing the ball just a few years back to Richie Benaud and company.

 

The high point of Jaisimha's career came in Australia in 1967-68. Initially omitted from the original touring party, he was requisitioned when injury laid low our fabulous spinner Chandrasekhar. Yes, replacing a spinner by a batsman is nothing unusual in India cricket!

 

But the main issue here is that Jaisimha went straight from the airport to the Test venue, 'Gabba in Brisbane. There he played two innings of remarkable maturity 74 and 109 and nearly took India to a remarkable victory.

 

Irony and melodrama followed Jaisimha throughout his cricket career. Obviously it was astonishing to find batsman Jaisimha replacing spinner Chandrasekhar; but what astounded still more was that he walked straight into the final XI although Sardesai, Saxena and Subramaniam were already there in the touring party as batsmen or whatever!

 

Mind you, most of the selectors were former Test players themselves. Actually it just goes to prove, if proof be at all necessary, that selectors ought to be men of knowledge and integrity, men of clean public image. No point having former Test cricketers as selectors who do not measure up to the high ideals required of them.

 

For a man of his vast potential and intelligence it is indeed ironical that Jaisimha, like some of his peers, was dreadfully out of his depth while representing India abroad. Jaisimha had a poor Test debut in England in 1959 but later too, apart from the superlative display at Brisbane, he made us tear our hair in disappointment. He tormented us daily. How can a batter with his kind of talent fail repeatedly even against mediocre oppositions?

 

On tours to West Indies, once in 1962 and then again in 1971 he had a total of just 160 runs in 13 completed innings. Just after the success against a strong Australian side at Brisbane, on the New Zealand leg of the twin tour he scored only 84 runs in 7 innings. Why on earth could he not show his real worth on these tours?

 

 Technique, temperament and skill he possessed in profusion, then why did he do less than justice to himself? Inconceivable indeed for a man who was so prolific, so inspiring on Indian pitches. If only he had got going more often abroad he would have done a great service to Indian cricket.

 

Jaisimha was at his best in the four seasons between 1960 and 1964. On Indian wickets he batted in regal splendour, banishing oppositions to all corners. Pakistan and England received the full measure of his wrath as his daring stroke-play made merry.

 

At Kanpur against Pakistan on his comeback match replacing Pankaj Roy a wonderful innings of 99 was cut short by a silly call for a single. Downcast he left the crease, dragging his bat on the turf. Even that melancholy sight had an aura of grace about it. He did not give a dirty look at his offending partner nor did he make any awkward gesture. Elegance personified even in pathos. These are the pictures that he will be remembered by for generations.

 

 Ultimately when he called it a day, he had 2056 runs at an average of 30.68 with 3 centuries. It goes without saying that his dashing blade did not measure up to his actual worth in terms of statistics. He was indeed a great disappointment. His talents were never quite realized. Why? Why? Why? We asked ourselves. But no answer ever came our way. Mysterious are the ways of men…

 

I personally feel he lacked the long-span of concentration, which is so very important to play the significant match-winning or match-saving innings. He got out after getting ‘set’ many times. He would do the difficult job of getting ‘set’ with ease and then with a casual stroke throw his wicket away. Was it lack of concentration? Repeatedly he committed the same mistake. Most unusual for a bright man like him.

 

Jaisimha is one of those cricketers who did not inflate their averages by plundering runs only against weak opponents. In fact against the comparatively weak New Zealand, he failed in every innings he played them. He seemed to lack the motivation. But Jai, the perfect gentleman, would be the first to deny this and would give credit to the New Zealanders for their successes. He would not have anything but the highest regard for the opposition.

 

Mothangalli Laxminarsu Jaisimha has been an idol of many including one named SMG, who genuinely hero-worshipped him for the way he helped the youngster in the latter's debut series in the Caribbean in 1971. When Jai’s batting form was going through hell even against the pathetically weak WI bowling of 1971, he had the large heartedness to help a highly talented newcomer to find his feet. That’s the real Jaisimha.

 

 Actually Jai was an immaculate gentleman by nature. He did not go about to catch anybody’s attention nor had any pretensions. Never tried to cultivate the media. Throughout his life he was genuinely interested in the development of youngsters and tried his best to assist them.

 

Such was his love for the game that he prolonged his first- class career till 1976. In a long span of 22 years he notched 12,616 runs at 36.66 with 30 centuries and took 396 wickets with his slow, gentle out-swingers and accurate off-breaks.

 

Had some very interesting interactions with him. The first one was at Chepauk where South Zone was hosting East Zone in a Duleep Trophy tie in 1973. Having just failed to overhaul SZ first innings total and being involved in a long stand with a tail-ender, I was extremely disappointed and did not wish to take the field in the 10 minutes change-over time. I went to the SZ dressing room and asked the SZ skipper Jaisimha, “Mr Jaisimha, may I please have a substitute to field for me for a short while?”

 

From the reclining seat beside him, his mate Venkataraghavan quipped, “If you can bat for so long, you can go and field as well.” I replied, “Well, whether I go to field or not is my issue. I just wanted to know if you do not allow a substitute, then we shall field with 10 men.” Venky was stunned to find the intricacies of the MCC law staring at him. But skipper Jaisimha, ever the gentleman, intervened, “Young man, please field for one over and then take a substitute.” Matter solved with ease. That’s typical Jaisimha.

 

 

Another meeting was in 1977 at Hyderabad while representing U-Foam team in the Moin-ud-Dowla Trophy. Jaisimha was our captain and he had invited me and Gopal Bose to play for U-Foam. I had a poor first match. On the morning of the 2^nd match, Jaisimha told me, in the best of cricketing euphemism, ‘to rest’.

 

I requested him that I be allowed to go back home as I did not wish to spend time watching others play. Jaisimha was aghast, “You mean you do not wish to be in the reserves? If you wish to be a cricketer you have to learn to be among the reserves as well.” I told him, “No, no, I do not want to be a cricketer at all. I play only because I enjoy playing. I hate to sit out and waste my time. Please allow me to leave soon.” Ever the gentleman, Jaisimha got me air-tickets and I left that very afternoon.

 

Within two months, East Zone was playing Central Zone at Jaipur in a Duleep Trophy match. I happened to get the highest score for EZ. Believe it or not, at the tea interval, Jaisimha – then just appointed a national selector – knocked on our dressing room door, called me aside and said, “Raju, sorry to have dropped you from the U-Foam team. You showed excellent temperament and technique today on this under-prepared pitch. Are you still casual about your cricket?” I smiled and said, “I love to play cricket myself but I hate watching others play cricket. For me it’s a sheer waste of time.” Jaisimha had a hearty laugh as he patted me on the back. The ultimate gentleman, he was. Free of all complexes. Totally independent of mind. Exemplary manners complemented the handsome appearance.

 

Jaisimha was a delightful blend of exuberance and refinement. During the Moin-ud-Dowla Trophy matches at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, the local idol Jaisimha would invariably invite fellow players for dinner at his Banjara Hills residence, where his delightful wife would keep delicious home-cooked kababs and biryani on the dining table. What a wonderful time the couple gave us. Hyderabad was the destination to be in the 1970s, for me at least. Since I was a teetotaller at the time, the Jaisimha family would not forget to keep fresh grape juice in plenty! He had the ‘old-fashioned’ culture of charm and subtlety in his veins.

 

 Intelligent and communicative, the man has rendered a yeoman's service to the cause of cricket. Free from woolly theories and prejudices, the cavalier persona of the man continued to be as attractive till the very end as he was with the guitar of a cricket bat in hand. He strummed melodious lyrics. An entertainer of the highest breed. An artiste who did not do justice at the international level to his exceptional talents. My eternal regret.

 

He was an excellent captain for South Zone and Hyderabad. After retirement he would have made an outstanding manager or mentor of India teams, or still better of India youth teams. Unfortunately that was not to be. His peers of hardly any worthwhile credentials were offered those important assignments for reasons better not be told!

 

Unlike most prominent cricketers, Jai was an erudite student of the game. The laws, special regulations, literature, history, technicalities, etcetera were well within his grasp. He was a delight to converse with. Ever-willing he was to share experiences in his cultured, well-modulated voice. He was the ideal man BCCI missed in mentoring young players.

 

An unique tale involving Jaisimha and Chuni Goswami shows the former at his magnanimous best. The current India soccer captain Chuni Goswami was in Hyderabad to attend an officers’- training course of his employer, State Bank of India. The artistic footballer was a very popular figure all over the country at the time.

 

Goswami was also playing in the local cricket tournaments at Hyderabad and seemed to have created quite an impression. Jaisimha the Hyderabad captain persuaded the State cricket selectors to select him for Hyderabad against Bengal in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final scheduled for February 1963.

 

Goswami travelled to Calcutta for the Ranji tie with Jaisimha’s Hyderabad side. Arriving here they found that the Bengal selectors had also chosen him for that particular tie!

 

Jaisimha, then the Hyderabad skipper, later related to me, “We could have raised an objection with BCCI. But that’s not the way this noble sport should be played. We were happy to see Chuni representing his own home State, Bengal.” Only a man of Jaisimha’s class can think on such lines.

 

Jaisimha further added, “However, I was desperate to have him in our XI. He would have been an asset as an all-rounder.” High regard, indeed, for India’s gold-medal winning football captain, who had just returned from Jakarta after winning the Asian soccer supremacy title.

 

Jaisimha was an entertainer of the highest breed. A multi-dimensional personality. A man free from prejudice. A man of style and glamour. An artiste of rare vintage. A man of sophistication and sensitivity.

 

He was most certainly the first to exhibit showmanship to the Indian cricket spectators in the post-war period.