When umpire Subrata Das upheld an appeal for leg-before against Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund at Baroda’s Moti Bagh ground recently, one among the muster of peacocks perched on a banyan tree let out a powerful squawk, perhaps in approval of the umpire’s decision.
Strange but true, the Moti Bagh cricket ground, located in the premises of the 700 acre Laxmi Vilas Palace compound, is a habitat for over 500 peacocks, gangs of monkeys, langurs, rabbits, mongoose, snakes and crocodiles. Visiting players have a thrilling tale to tell after playing cricket at the Moti Bagh. Long ago, the Royal family of Gaekwads, patrons of cricket, donated 20 bighas to develop a cricket facility; now, the local association maintains the ground, practice pitches and dressing rooms.
The famous cricketing Gaekwad has always been Fatehsinghrao, popularly known as ‘Jackie Baroda’ in England. He was BCCI president and manager of the Indian team in Pakistan in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The present Maharaja of Baroda is Samarjitsinh Gaekwad. He is also the president of the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA).
“The natural environment appeals to cricketers. This ground is situated in the green-belt of the town. I love sitting under the banyan tree and hearing the chirping of birds. It reaches a crescendo in the evening. I have felt good vibrations here; others have also said the same to me. That is, perhaps, because of the presence of the centuries-old Pir Baba Dargah and a maqbara located behind the dressing room. There are facilities for tennis, badminton and a 10-hole golf course,” said Vishvajisinh Padhiar, in-charge of the ground here for the last seven years.
Sandeep Patil, chairman of the BCCI senior national committee, who watched the match between Baroda and Tamil Nadu, recalled his first visit. “I came here for the first time in the mid-70s with the Bombay University team, and took eight wickets, and also in the late-70s with the Bombay Ranji Trophy team.
“Then, only the centre plot with five pitches was green; the rest was all brown. Mamasaheb Ghorpade (then national selector) would come and sit in the ‘Royal Tent’ along with Maharaja Fatehsinghrao. He liked me and Sunil Gavaskar. There was always a crowd of 15,000 for a first-class match. Today, it is lush green. It looks brilliant with all the flora and fauna. Nowhere in the world would one find a cricket venue like this,” said Patil.
While the Tamil Nadu and Baroda players were focused on their match, the peacocks, monkeys and langurs took their usual rounds near the boundary fence. It was fascinating indeed. For the record, India has played three ODIs here — against the West Indies in 1983-84, Sri Lanka in 1987 and New Zealand in 1988, when Mohammad Azharuddin scored an unbeaten 108 in a two-wicket win.
