A perfect gentleman, in true cricketing traditions

By Vijay Lokapally

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 30. ``Are we playing this Sunday?'' The voice, full of verve, brought back memories of the previous Sunday. A dust storm had played havoc with the city but it would not stop Mr. Madhavrao Scindia from reaching an obscure venue in South Delhi to play a cricket match.

``Come on you young men, let's get on with the game,'' he greeted us.

Mr. Scindia had reached the venue half an hour before any of us had. Such was his enthusiasm for cricket. Cricket, it seemed, was his only love. Sorry, it indeed was. There was a special place in his heart for cricketers who never had to wait when seeking his audience. He always had time to spare for a cricketer and the generation did not matter. He was as amiable with Tiger Pataudi as he was with Vinod Kambli. One had seen seasoned politicians and party workers waiting even as cricketers gained direct access to meet him during busy hours.

Those Sunday games would give us insight into how passionate he was about cricket. His preparation was always impeccable, reaching the ground early and having a little jog. His kit would have made any international cricketer envious. His Gunn and Moore stuff reflected his taste and seriousness and there were many occasions when he did justice to the brand with a neat innings.

Impeccably attired in white flannels, Mr. Scindia respected cricket conventions even though his detractors would point out his rush to become the Board president by forcing an election. He took care to look every bit a cricketer-right from the walk to toss to the time he would thank the umpires at the end of play. And the image of the cap, tilted at an angle, shall remain etched in one's memory. Mr. Scindia's involvement was fierce. As an administrator, he strove hard to raise the overall standard of the game and when he played, he whipped his mates around to win at any cost. He made no attempt to hide his desire to win and took every match seriously: his appeals from slip or mid-on always conveying his involvement.

He always took pride in projecting himself as a cricketer-turned- administrator. ``I'm more a cricketer than an administrator actually,'' he would often say after taking over as the Board president. He distinctly felt uneasy in the company of Board officials. ``Don't know who to trust,'' he had once confessed.

He enjoyed his post as the Board president because it allowed him to interact with cricketers, past and present, and do the game some good in his capacity. Inviting South Africa to signal the end of its cricket isolation was a feather in his cap.

It was a credit to his charming personality that cricketers always felt comfortable in his company. He was a big fan of cricketers and there was never any doubt that he was a cricketers' man in the Board. Here is what Railways' coach Vinod Sharma shared with us.

``He was instrumental in Railways' under-19 team getting affiliation to the Board and it happened when the juniors beat his strong team in a Sunday match. So impressed was Mr. Scindia with the performance of the lads that he got them affiliated to the Board,'' said Vinod Sharma. The Railway lads finished runner- up in the Cooch-Behar the same season.

Mr. Scindia also worked hard for women's cricket. ``He did a great service by raising a women's team in the Railways. Cricketers in the Railways shall remain indebted to him forever,'' said an emotional Vinod Sharma.

His desire to play a match would sometimes leave us amazed. He would not mind playing with injury, reporting well ahead of the team's selection. ``Can I have a runner. I know it's against the rule but...,'' he would plead. There were any number who would run for him.

``Why don't you write about my cricket, my drives,'' he would say in jest. One never got to but we did enjoy his passion to stay in the middle, blocking Boycott-style, wiping the sweat off his face, taking time to face the next ball. His stance was perfect. And he was a perfect gentleman, in true cricketing traditions.

We will miss those calls from Mr. Scindia to know if there was a match that weekend. The Sunday games will not be the same anymore without the most enthusiastic member of our club.

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