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.