India's oldest living test cricketer Madhav Mantri, who enters his 90th year today, predicts...
India's oldest living test cricketer Madhav Mantri, who enters his 90th year today, predicts...
India's oldest living Test cricketer, Madhav Mantri enters his 90th year today. From a cricketing point of view, he could have been spared the disappointment of seeing the game in a poor state caused by the spot fixing controversy which has gripped Pakistan and world cricket.
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| Sunil Gavaskar's maternal uncle Madhav Mantri makes a point at his Hindu Colony home in Mumbai yesterday.
PIC/SAMEER MARKANDE |
"This is sad. It's certainly not good for upcoming players," he says at his Hindu Colony dwelling. There's more from his lips on the controversy. "Yes, certain steps are being taken, but I feel, things will drag on to ensure Pakistan's World Cup participation is not at risk. Action will be taken only after next year's World Cup." Those expecting quick action on the Pakistani suspects will not appreciate this, but Mantri's association with cricket has been long enough to take his theory seriously
InfluentialApart from being an influential cricketer in Mumbaiu00a0 circles, Mantri also headed the Mumbai Cricket Association in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
His position as MCA president got him the manager's job on India's 1990 tour of England. It's been 20 years, but Mantri remembers it as if it were yesterday.
It was Sachin Tendulkar's first tour of England where he scored his first Test hundred ufffd a match-saving one ufffd against Graham Gooch's team in the second Test at Old Trafford.
"He played beautifully. But I can never forget the game against Derbyshire before the first Test at Lord's. One evening, Sachin came and sat next to me in the bus. He said he played the English bowlers and now wants to face West Indies bowlers. Derbyshire had Ian Bishop as an overseas player and Sachin had heard a lot about him. Now, he wanted to play him. I requested the seniors in the team to allow him to play against Derbyshire even though he had finished his quota of warm-up matches. He batted at No 3 and got a hundred to help us win."
Mantri may look a bit weak after a recent illness, but there's no trace of flab. "I get up at 4.30 am; do some free-arm exercises followed by a 45-minute walk," he said. He walks indoors without footwear to do justice to his acupressure beliefs. There's a cricketing aspect in his walking regime. It's 22 paces from the balcony till the end of his passage.
There will be no big celebrations on completing 89. He's just grateful to the almighty for a long life. The bachelor married to cricket recalled his father's encouragement.u00a0 "When I completed my BA, he said I must do my MA which would help me in my University cricket too and I am glad I did so."
Sachin's callAs evening became night, a kind of a birthday gift came his way. He got to speak to Sachin Tendulkar over the phone. Mantri's contribution to Mumbai cricket has been immense. The inaugural Mantri Trophy under-22 tournament was played this year. There's also another contribution that Indian cricket should never forget ufffd his guidance that helped nephew Sunil Gavaskar blossom.
Madhav Krishnaji Mantri has helped many to fly in cricket's great big sky. That he meant something special to two little men ufffd Gavaskar and Tendulkar is a huge achievement in itself.
