There are a few things that are deeply rooted in the collective imagination of the people of Tripunithura, even Kerala! One of them is certainly the magic of Pooja Cricket, the first ever limited-over tournament in the country, perhaps even the world.
For 60 uninterrupted years this tournament has attracted some of the best talents in the country, who have engaged themselves in some keenly fought battles of the historic Palace Oval.
Nostalgia
For the cricketers who gathered once again at the Tripunithura Cricket Club and put on their coloured gear for a T-20 game, after many, many years, it was nostalgia all the way.
“I still recall the relaxed ambience in which matches were played, the sound of the leather on the willow that carried so clear right to the pavilion and the loud applause from the wall-sitters, who I thought were well informed about the game. It was a joy playing here,” said former Indian leg-spinner V. V. Kumar who led a bunch of veteran cricketers from Tamil Nadu, all of whom had left an indelible impression on this tournament down the years.
Former Kerala all-rounder Manikanta Kurup, a real entertainer with his big hitting prowess aptly said, “you (the crowd) encouraged me and I entertained.”
Tripunithura Cricket Club brought together former cricketers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, honoured them before they teamed up for a friendly .
“I cannot forget this ground and the tournament. Coming back here after nearly 30 years and taking my run-up from the same end was simply exciting,” remembers B. Kalyanasundaram, the fast bowler who had the distinction of playing Ranji Trophy for both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The match showed that these golden oldies were still in good touch. Former BCCI secretary S. K. Nair said, “I have not bowled for a long time. This ground somehow infuses the spirit in you, makes you forget your physical condition, your age. That is the magic of this tournament, this ground.”
Among those who took the field were former Karnataka opener B. Raghunath, Tamil Nadu stalwarts like S. Kedarnath (he still packed a punch in his on drives), S. Gopalakrishnan, R. Madhavan (elegant and effective as he always was), R. Prabhakar, M. Santosh Kumar, C. S. Dayakar (spot on with his left-arm spin), Kerala veterans like Ranjith Thomas (focused behind and before the wicket), Babu Venkatesh, P. Balachandran, S. Ramesh, J. K. Mahendra, O. K. Ramdas. All of them looked keen and ready for more.
Being bowled over
The ground is very small, very compact. Somehow it looks best during these tournament days. The lush green outfield, the trees around clothed in youthful greenery and the crowds thronging in with animated anticipation.
The touring teams, in particular, were always simply bowled over. What can be the reason for this? Was it the nail-biting matches with the crowds literally breathing down their necks? The serenity of the traditional, rustic setting? Or the ultimate dignity of the game as it is played here?
The answers are quite varied.
Coming back to the match, Tamil Nadu won the game by eight wickets. They were presented a memento by former Kerala fast bowler Sandy Aaron, who despite his eighty-odd years relished every moment of the day.
To complete the Pooja ambience there was the crowd in the galleries, the incessant beating of the drums and a group of senior cricketers in the pavilion dissecting the game.
To rewrite a few lines from Thomas Moult (Close of Play): When the stumps were drawn, the day and the ground like a drained glass empty, memories of these cricketers, their banter, their laughter, their exploits on the field would occupy the rest of the days till they come back with their willows, these uncrowned kings of Palace Oval.
