The man who held the Indian flag high

No Indian has written for more foreign and Indian journals on sport than Gulu Ezekiel. Numerous articles of his have been published in the best of publications worldwide.

For sheer orbit and depth of research, Gulu has few parallels in India and abroad. He has not restricted himself to his favourite sport of cricket but has deviated into diverse sport disciplines. Football, hockey, athletics and tennis have received almost as much attention.

He began life as a sport journalist with leading newspapers. In time he realized that his canvas would be broad and more meaningful if he went alone. That’s exactly what he did.

As a freelance researcher and exemplary analyst, Gulu dived into the ocean of sport history to unearth unsolved mysteries and to tackle improbable issues. Without a single godfather whether in the media or in the world he created a trail of his own. Therein lies the exceptional quality in this most unassuming of all men. Quiet yet confident he knew he was born to uphold the national flag on international podiums.

Gulu knows how to write. He knows how to convince from a position of strength. He knows how to reveal the truth. He knows how to uphold justice against odds. He cares only for what is good for the nation and is not bothered about any province or community or individual. His is an insular existence.   

When the Olympic historian David Wallechinsky mentioned that Norman Pritchard represented Britain in the Paris Olympiad of 1900, the nationalist in Gulu Ezekiel went up in arms. Promptly he took out his sword and slashed Wallechinsky’s logic into shreds. He brought back the two silver medals won by Norman Pritchard to India.

Gulu in characteristic fashion showed the world what his blood was all about. He would never accept injustice, no matter the opposition. He gave a blow by blow account of Norman Pritchard’s birth, education and employment at Calcutta and the man’s stardom in various fields in three continents: Asia (athletics), Europe (stage acting) and North America (Hollywood hero). The world was transfixed to find how one man stood up against the unjust appraisal and acknowledged his victory.

As a cub reporter he suffered at the hands of his superiors. But never gave up. Confident of his own potential, he silently fought on and showed his critics his actual worth. Today to foreign publications he is the most sought after sport historian of India.

So engrossed was he with sport that he married cricket and did not regret the decision. His collection of books, periodicals and memorabilia would put to embarrassment many a library. Literally in thousands, well indexed and lovingly preserved. 

First met him at Calcutta, through Rajan Bala. Unassuming and modest, the trainee journalist drew my attention.Very next moment he was transformed into an absorbing conversationalist of remarkable cricket knowledge. From that very day we became close, really close. As co-conspirators! Gulu spent his early life in three distinct seats of learning: Pune, Calcutta and Chennai.

His penchant for the written word is an ancestral influence of his famous poet-uncle, the esteemed Nissim Ezekiel. His mother’s – a Marathi-speaking Parsee – liberal vision made Gulu the generous and remarkably conscientious soul that he is. On either side of his family are exceptional talents in various fields.

Voracious reader, prolific writer, outstanding analyst, Gulu’s elephantine memory resides between those dark eyebrows on his handsome widening forehead. He never needed any help from any quarter but the magnanimous self is ever willing to help all and sundry. I can vouch as a beneficiary myself.

An asset he is to India’s sports cavalcade.

 

 

Raju Mukherji on Cricket: BB Nimbalkar: victim of a ruler's inferiority co...

Raju Mukherji on Cricket:   BB Nimbalkar: victim of a ruler's inferiority co...:     BB Nimbalkar: victim of a ruler's inferiority complex The small territory of Kathiawar based in the western part of India in the G...

 

 BB Nimbalkar: victim of a ruler's inferiority complex

The small territory of Kathiawar based in the western part of India in the Gujarat peninsula had a ruler whose heart was as small as the land he governed. He was known as the Takore Sahab of Rajkot, Pradumansinhji.

Kathiawar was included among the teams for the Ranji Trophy championship in the season 1948-49. The Kathiawar cricket team travelled to Poona to play against the might of Maharashtra at the Poona Gymkhana ground, which was known to be a bowler’s graveyard. Mammoth totals were recorded on this ground over the years.

Winning the toss, the Kathiawar captain Pradumansinhji decided to take the first strike. Considering the reputation of the docile pitch, newcomers Kathiawar recorded an unimpressive total of 236, which included a dashing 77 by the skipper.

When Maharashtra came to bat one could feel the difference in strength and strategy between the two teams. While the debutant Kathiawaris appeared disoriented and the leadership hesitant, Maharashtra adopted the no-nonsense approach as exemplified by their mentor-captain-guru combined, Prof Dinakar Balwant Deodhar.

The two openers, MR Rege and Kamal Bhandarkar attacked the weak opposition bowling from the beginning and raced to 81 when Rege left. Now, the prolific Ranji Trophy run-getter BB Nimbalkar appeared on the scene with his trademark handkerchief around his neck.

Bhandarkar and Nimbalkar added a world record score of 455 runs for the 2^nd wicket in just 300 minutes. After Bhandarkar (205) left, Bhaosahab Nimbalkar continued with his judicious stroke-play.

When Nimbalkar’s individual score had reached 443, the Kathiawar captain Pradumansinhji decided that his team would not take further part in the match!

There was no earthly reason behind the strange decision. Except that the prolific Bhaosahab Nimbalkar was on 443 just 9 runs short of  Donald Bradman’s the then world record of 452. It was a most unsportsmanlike decision on the part of the Kathiawar captain, Pradumansinhji. 

Nimbalkar was denied a world record by his own countryman. It appears that so enamoured was Pradumansinhji by the supposed ‘superiority’ of white-skinned people that he did not want a fellow dark Indian to overhaul the white man’s achievement.

Just goes to show that ‘royals’ are no different from people who are not born with the supposed ‘blue’ blood. They have the same weaknesses, the same mean-mindedness and the same failings as the ‘commoners’. Magnanimity, humility, integrity have nothing to do with one’s genes, environment, financial background or academic accomplishments.

The pathetic gesture happens to be a blot on Indian cricket.

 

 

Subroto Sirkar: walking encyclopaedia of cricket

Left a thriving family jewellery empire. Let go of foreign bank and nationalized bank jobs. The sophisticated young man’s overwhelming interest in sport, particularly cricket and tennis, overshadowed every other worldly matter.

The young reporter was a perfectionist from the first day. Subroto Sirkar would go about his work in his own distinguished style and manner, whether at the desk or on the prowl.

He had the knowledge of different eras of cricket in different lands and the wisdom to analyze that mere comparisons between eras are odious. Hundreds of years of cricket history  are stored in his elephantine memory.

In the 1970s he brought forward a new perspective: a fresh vision of accepting the past and the present in equal measure. He understood the actual value of values. With a johuree’s vision, he could easily identify genuine gems from fakes.  

In time he was at Lord’s media box or Wimbledon centre-court in the company of the top journalists of the sports world. And be rated highly by his contemporaries.  Leading publications looked forward to his reports, especially on tennis. I remember Dicky Rutnagur’s and Rajan Bala’s high praise of Subroto Sirkar. 

He was a year senior to me in school and college. We never spoke for 14 years, just exchanged courtesy smiles! Even watched matches at Eden Gardens and Mohun Bagan ground without exchanging a word!  Two reticent fools were probably waiting to be formally introduced!

However in 1972 – my ‘first-class’ debut season – after the match against Maharashtra, while returning by train he walked up to my seat to inform that I had equalled a world record!

I was flabbergasted. Who I, are you sure? A soft nod, “With your first delivery in first-class cricket you have taken a wicket. Very few bowlers have done so.” No wonder! I now realized the reason for Chandu Borde, the Maharashtra captain, to give me that ball at the end of the match.  That’s Subroto Sirkar for you. And Rana for me.

Next morning when not a single leading newspaper in India had any idea of any new world record equalled, he was ready with his report. That’s  journalism put to the test, and Rana came out the best. He remains the walking encyclopaedia of cricket.

To win victories like these calls for wide and deep study, sharp memory, high intelligence, writing skills and sensitivity. Very few can do so as easily as Rana does, without any fuss.

His personal collection of books, periodicals and journals is in thousands. Vintage editions. Rare copies. All neatly kept and lovingly nurtured. But newspaper cuttings or drafts of his own writings he just cannot locate! Makes no effort to search as well! The unassuming, introvert still prefers to be totally invisible behind a self-imposed exile! Never bothered to write a book, although he aids others to do so without getting any credits.

Not a single selfish bone he has in that handsome intelligent self of his. Was born with a golden spoon to distribute largesse in style and splendor. Most magnanimously he does give away his knowledge, his wisdom, (even his books!) to all and sundry. But never in style and splendor. He wraps it up as softly and as quietly as possible. No credit asked for, none given!

But what makes him an exceptional person is his generosity. Willingly he will answer every query. Most magnanimously he will add information to your subject, if you need. I know for sure as I have been a regular recipient. Don’t have enough words to express my gratitude. Only hope he does not get upset in finding himself in print!

Genteel and gentle,  a most generous and gracious gentleman. A great credit to unbiased sports journalism.

 

The strange career of Madhav Apte

At 20 in November 1952, Bombay’s prolific opener ML Apte debuted against Pakistan with 30 and 10*, followed by 42. Was dropped for the next Test match.

Later in April 1953 Madhav Apte returned from the tour of West Indies with his aggregate and average second only to Polly Umrigar. Below him were Hazare, Mankad, Roy, Manjrekar and the others. His career figures till then read 7 Tests, 542 runs at a very impressive 49.27.

After that day Apte Madhav never played for India again! The selection committee of four comprising Lala Amarnath, Cota Ramaswami, Hormusji Contractor and Manindra ‘Bechu’ Dutta Ray decided officially that Apte was not good enough to continue playing for India. No reasons were asked for; none given. Unofficially, however, the grapevine reported that he lost the vote 2-3 with the chairman’s casting vote going against him.

But what did the three former cricketers and Dutta Ray have against the 20 year old youngster who had such a fantastic tour to the Caribbean? Moreover he was a brilliant fielder who along with Adhikari, Gadkari and Umrigar were magnificent in the outfield giving great support to the brilliant spinner Subhash Gupte on that tour.

I guess Apte’s financial background went against him. He belonged to a super-rich family. The Aptes were industrialists who dealt primarily in textiles. They possessed well-earned wealth from which they liberally donated to charities. Did this huge pot of gold tempt two crooked minds? Probably those two selectors took Oscar Wilde’s remark ‘I can resist everything, except temptation’ too seriously!

If two selectors voted for him who could they be? Your guess is as good as mine. The chairman needed just one man to stab the dagger between Madhav’s shoulder-blades from the rear. And that is precisely what the two crooked men did.

Did they ask for some considerations and not get it? Did they want some kind of deal with one of their concerns? Did the patriarch in the Apte family turn down the offer? Quite likely. Because the enterprising Aptes were an educated, liberal family of high principles and self respect. They would not want one of their own to play for India through the back-door. This of course is a guess of mine, however wild it might be.

Madhavrao Laxmanrao Apte (1932-2019) took in his stride the grave injustice that literally finished his youthful cricket career. Never bothered to cross swords with anyone. Rather concentrated on his family business and kept in touch with the game as a patron of young players. In his final days, his only serious association with cricket was as the president of the iconic Cricket Club of India (CCI).

Met him just once, at CCI. My book on Eden Gardens had just been published in 2014. ML Apte was so impressed that he asked me to do a similar book on Brabourne Stadium. I told him I would not be able to do justice for the spontaneity would be missing. He appreciated my view and did not press.

 An exemplary gentleman of charm and dignity. Viciously stabbed in the back at the peak of his career by a committee of four, including three former cricketers. Reason?  Perhaps for being a rich man’s son, who refused to ...

 

 

Man with a mission

One singular man with a singular act transformed the thought-process of Indian cricket forever. He conceived the concept of talent-spotting by going deep into the interiors of this wide and wonderful land of ours. No one earlier had thought of this idea. People in cities waited for talents to come to them. Makarand Waingankar thought otherwise. Who had time for village and small-town talents earlier?

Who’s this fella giving gyaan to Indian cricket administrators? The corporate marketing job took the bright gentleman to the districts and beyond. His liberal, social-minded soul hit upon the novel idea and the freelance journalist in him put forward his view to BCCI and KSCA.

Thankfully both Brijesh Patel of KSCA and Prof Ratnakar Shetty – the man who cleaned the cobwebs at BCCI and made it a happening place – were quick to grasp the excellent proposal. Shetty brought some very sincere Talent Resource Development Officers (TRDOs) under the BCCI fold and sent them on the discovery trail.  Almost overnight players from non-fancied areas began to be identified and rewarded. Men like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan are prime examples.

Mack in time acted as a mentor to players who faced serious problems. The youthful Yuvraj Singh was a beneficiary. Even non-Test players benefitted from his acquaintance in their respective careers. Young players like Gautam Som and Subhasis Das, both from Bengal, come readily to mind.

Mack has no remarkable cricket background as an active player. Does not belong to any influential media-house.  Has no powerful administrator beside him. But he has a mind of his own.

Has the courage of conviction. An appetite for knowledge and the spirit of innovation. The independent mind of a bright soul: a warrior true to his mission.

 

I first met him in the press enclosure at Feroz Shah Kotla in the mid-1980s. It was a peculiar kind of rapport at first sight. He had not seen me play (thank God), but had read my articles in Tiger Pataudi-edited Sportsworld.

Unsmiling, the firm voice asked, ”Can we please use your articles for our Marathi cricket fortnightly?”  Even I, a poor judge of people, could see the sincerity and the integrity in that tall, confident frame of his. Taking permission from ABP, I gave consent. This was one judgement, I am proud to say I did right!

Waingankar and Pappu Sanzgiri became involved with Sandip Patil’s cricket fortnightly Ekach Shatkar. The magazine put to shade even established English sports magazines in Marathi-speaking regions. Since then Mack has gone from peak to peak in his own individual style and route.

Mack has cricket printed on his heart. Initially in Marathi journalism he brought about a silent revolution which rose to a crescendo that reverberated around the country. His writings and books in English have added dimensions to the history of the game in the country. While on a short sabbatical, he finished his Ph.D on cricket.

Today as I sit and write this blog I realize that I am 76 and still need someone to push me out of my lethargy. Mack did that job with ease. “You have rested throughout 2024 and 2025. Now do start again for the sake of only those who genuinely love cricket.” I thought he was right. Thanks, Mack.

 

 

 

Stoddart: why? why? why?

The unusual story of Andrew Stoddart yearns to be told and retold to show the futility of life. He belonged to the British aristocracy during the heydays of Victorian Britain. Public school background followed by the usual Oxbridge routine.

A contemporary of Ranjitsinhji, in between his birth in 1863 and his death in 1915, he had achieved enough to satisfy any person’s ego for a lifetime and more. He captained England at cricket. Not content, he tried his hand at rugby and went on to represent England, again as captain.

To be a double international in sport is a highly praiseworthy achievement and only a few outstanding sportspeople have done so. But to lead one’s nation in two sports disciplines is a very, very rare occurrence. Not even the legendary CB Fry could lay claims to have led England both in two sports disciplines.

Stoddart played cricket quite casually. Appearing in patches for Middlesex as a middle-order batter, he could be relied upon to play the responsible innings in times of need. He ended his 16-Test career with an above par average of 37.

Discerning readers would understand the gravity of the statistical figure when they consider that he played on ‘uncovered’ pitches favourable to bowlers. Grace averaged 32 and Ranji 44. Of course, stats mean nothing unless properly perceived. The concept of preparing batter-friendly paradises came much later.

All these unique achievements pale into insignificance when we realize that Andrew Stoddart was the first captain in the history of cricket to have won a match after following-on.

He took the England (then MCC) team to distant Australia, sailing months on seas. In the first Test at Sydney, Australia piled on 586 runs. England’s reply did not go beyond 325. With such a huge lead the Australia asked England to bat again. With defeat staring at them, England reached a decent score of 437 in the 2^nd innings. With just 176 to win Australia began its 2nd innings.

Overnight rain affected the fifth and final day’s play. The teams agreed to add an extra day for the benefit of the paying spectators. On the 6^th day Stoddart’s team shot the opponents out for 140, thereby winning the match by the narrow margin of just 10 runs. Andrew Stoddart became the first-ever captain to win a match after following-on! This was incredible.

 For nearly 90 years the unique record remained till Mike Brearley’s England upset Australia’s apple-cart in a similar fashion at Leeds in 1981. Brearley making a comeback as captain had the pleasure to see Bob Willis take 8 for43 as Australia collapsed for 111. Botham’s contributed 50 and 149 and took 6 and 1 wickets.

Similarly Sourav Ganguly’s Indians had the measure of Steve Waugh’s Aussies at Eden in 2001. While saluting the magnificent contributions at Eden in 2001 of the magical trio of Laxman (281), Dravid (180) and Harbhajan (7 & 6 wickets), let us not forget that Stoddart’s men were the first to achieve the epic feat way back in 1894.

 Andrew Edward Stoddart’s modesty came to the fore as he maintained that his captaincy had little to do with the ultimate unique result! Grace and graciousness combined.

But what followed was very, very strange. One day at the prime of his life Stoddart decided that enough was enough. He put a pistol to his ear and pulled the trigger. People were shocked. They moaned and sobbed. None knew the reason. No amount of research has been able to unravel the secret.

England captain at cricket and rugby; historic achievement as cricket captain; highly acclaimed all over yet Stoddart yearned to see for himself what lay beyond death…