Batman from Borivali

Prafull Upadhyay believes it is more the merrier especially when it comes to cricket bats

Prafull Upadhyay believes it is more the merrier especially when it comes to cricket batsu00a0

SACHIN Tendulkar's cricket bat was the centre of fiery debate some years ago, when cricket aficionados would argue whether the little Master Blaster used a bat that was too heavy for him. Tendulkar used a bat that weighed 1.51kg, while bigger-stature cricketers use lighter bats. Opinions raged about whether Sach would have an even more impressive record with a lighter bat, these cricket conversations were peppered with statistics that are the lifeblood of the game's followers. Australian cricketing folklore invariably includes how the late legend Don Bradman began playing cricket using a stump as a cricket bat and a golf ball.

WHERE THERE IS A WILLOW THERE IS A WAY: Prafull Upadhyay with his bat collectionu00a0Pic/ NIMESH DAVE

Only wood, please
Lillee refused to change the bat. Brearley, Lillee, and the umpires held an animated discussion for almost ten minutes, before Lillee was made change bats. Lillee threw the metal fully 40 yards towards the pavilion, and grudgingly took the wooden bat. After the game, sales of the bat skyrocketed for a few months, before the laws of the game were amended, specifying that bats had to be made from wood.

Loft-y deeds
The game's lore is full of players and their experiences with the willow. Prafull Upadhyay knows all about what is called as the blade in cricketing terminology. The Borivali resident has a loft in his home that houses his cricket bat collection. Prafull has 175 cricket bats and is still counting.

Bat's that
Prafull, a cricket player and enthusiast, who has his own cricket nets and organizes cricket tourneys for amateurs and his community, says his collection is a, "hobby". Just like people collect stamps, coins, postcards, even watches and sunglasses, "I collect cricket bats" he says with a grin.

My space
The businessman who runs a business making covers for computer, fridges and television sets says, 'You know, storing 175 to 200 cricket bats is very tough given the size of Mumbai homes. I have a loft at my place, where I store a lot of the cricket bats. I also have a 3,000 square feet warehouse near my house for my work, I store some cricket bats in that shed too, if you have hobbies like these you do need to have the facility to sustain it. I thank God that he has given me the ability to do so."

Grip service
Lofts and warehouses give storage space, but one needs to have a big wallet too, to nurture a hobby like this.

'Since I have started collecting cricket bats which I began in 1996, I have spent approximately Rs 10 lakh on the hobby. This includes buying the bat, paying for 'opening' each bat (a new bat needs to be knocked on to be opened) rather like a case of wine that opens after a period of time revealing its true flavour and maintaining the cricket bats. In fact, bat maintenance itself costs me Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 annually. Most of this maintenance comprises changing the bat grips." Prafull adds, 'I have cricket bats ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 20,000 each, though most of my bats fall into the Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 range."u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

Weighty 80
Says Prafull, "I have an entire range of cricket bats from brands like Symonds, Gun & Moore, Grey Nicholls, BAS, Reebok and many others to bats which may not be branded but are good quality. Sometimes, I have 30 cricket bats in my car when I travel to tournaments."u00a0

The self-made entrepreneur mixes business with the pleasure of cricket bat buying. "My work entails me traveling to different places within the city, and I usually buy the cricket bats when I have a little time in between. Last year, at one point, I picked up 80 cricket bats in one go from a store. I already have picked up five cricket bats since January 2009."

Smash hit
Prafull's hobby has a philanthropic streak to it. This 'all-rounder' as he calls himself, often gives his cricket bats to needy players, boys in whom he spots a germ of talent, so that they can use them for a while at least during matches. "Though many collectors are possessive about their collections, I believe these bats should be used, not just sit on a shelf for show. My son (16) uses some of them, and the others I give those who cannot afford buying top class bats. If somebody smashes a century with my bat, then it is all worth it."

Rip offs
He throws in a word of caution to all bat buyers, "Do not always go for a branded bat. I have a bat, which costs Rs 1,700 just an odd one in my collection that has lasted 10 years. I also recommend that people take along a knowledgeable person when buying bats. Several shops, especially out of Mumbai do gyp the customer by putting a 'brand name' sticker on an ordinary bat and charging an extraordinary sum for the bats." On that cautious note the batman exits saying what else but 'buy buy' for now.

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