“If you don’t take care of your kit, the kit will not take care of you,” the great Vijay Hazare used to say.
This was not just about equipment. It was about discipline, commitment, and conduct on and off the field. The larger message was — unless you gave everything to cricket, the game would not look after you.
Remembering the words of his uncle, Sanjay Hazare told The Hindu on Wednesday, “For him, there was nothing bigger than being ethical and honest. He would tell me ‘You have to come up on your own, you should expect nobody to help you.’”
Sanjay, who was in the city as a BCCI umpire standing in a competition named after his uncle, Sanjay said, “It’s an honour and I must thank the BCCI for naming the competition after my beloved uncle.”
Sanjay was a competent leg-spinner in his time with 108 first class wickets at 33.08 — his finest moment came when he scalped five in an innings for West Zone in a tour game against Clive Lloyd’s West Indians in 1983.
Significant role
He revealed the iconic Vijay Hazare played a significant part in his development. “There were three pitches in the polo ground opposite his house in Vadodara and he would watch us play and practice. Afterwards, he would sit with us and enlighten us.”
Sanjay added, “Vijay uncle often spoke about footwork, how as a bowler I should bowl a length that limited the footwork of a batsman.
“He had tremendous footwork himself. He was a good footballer and this helped his footwork in cricket.”
“He would tell me ‘You can make out what strokes and which side the batsman was going to play from his stance.’
“Then he would talk about the kind of field placements I should have.”
Battle with the Don
“Nothing made him happier than when he recalled his battles with Australia and the legendary Don Bradman down under.”
He went on, “His face would light up and he would say, ‘I bowled three out-swingers at the great Don and then brought one back. Bradman was bowled, the God of Cricket.’ Vijay uncle could bowl both seamers and leg-spin.”
Sanjay recalled, “And then, he would talk about his hundred-in-each-innings feat against Australia. We were a large family and he loved to share his memories.”
Apart from being a phenomenal batsman, Vijay Hazare brought great values with him to the arena.
