The cricketing fraternity was in for a shock on Monday with the demise of former Hyderabad Ranji captain M.V. Sridhar. He was a role model for any budding cricketer playing in the HCA leagues as he evolved into one of the best batsmen in Ranji Trophy having started playing in the B-Division League.
A prolific run-getter in his playing days and a wonderful communicator because of his fluency in English and Hindi.
One of the high-points of Sridhar’s illustrious Ranji career was his 366 against Andhra when Hyderabad scored then record-breaking score of 944 for six declared at Gymkhana in January, 1994. The same innings also saw Vivek Jaisimha and Noel David score double centuries!.
And, one of the most visibly shaken cricketers was Noel David, who was Sridhar’s partner when history was scripted at Gymkhana.
“I can never forget that match and I am eternally grateful to Doc (as Sridhar is affectionately called in the cricketing circles). The few times I went for the strokes, he shouted at me - teherke khelna, lamba bari khelna (stay there and play a long innings). It was just because of him I could score a double century,” said Noel struggling to control his emotions in a chat with The Hindu . “I miss him more than anyone else,” he said.
Interestingly, former HCA Secretary D.S. Chalapathi, who was a witness to that historic batting display, recalls that Sridhar was actually a selfless cricketer who never cared for records. “If he wanted to bat on, he could have easily been cautious and scored 400 and more on that day. But, he decided to score quick runs and declared the innings to try for an improbable win,” he said.
Ironically, for someone who always believed in playing a long innings out there in the middle, destiny deemed otherwise and cut short what has been a truly brilliant cricketing career - as a first-class player and also dotted with his impeccable behaviour in handling some of the most demanding jobs at the highest level in the BCCI as General Manager (Operations) and with the Indian team too as manager.
By all means, HCA will miss a gentleman cricketer, a sober voice for sure.
