As the train chugged into Bhilwara junction, the North Zone team went into a huddle. It was the winter of 1995 and the team was travelling to this town in Mewar region. Few knew what lay in store as we travelled from Jaipur. A former Arjuna Award winner in basketball had joined to chaperone the cricketers and two scribes but he was helpless when we reached Bhilwara for a Duleep Trophy match. A crowd of 3000-odd had turned up to receive the team which had just two international players in its ranks, Ajay Sharma and Atul Wassan.
“Watch your valuables,” shouted a member of the team. “Relax sir, you will lose nothing” assured the local manager. The crowd roared, its number menacing, but not one player was pushed around or intimidated by this rousing reception. The convoy was cheered all the way to the hotel where the players were treated like celebrities, the captain receiving special treatment, a car and a suite at his disposal. This was cricket at a small centre. The players were pampered and a huge crowd turned up on all days to watch the games.
Test centres have, of late, become an eyesore when staging domestic cricket. Empty galleries stare at the players, the performances go un-applauded with hardly anyone noticing the first-class match, sometimes involving top players. The need to reach out to small venues has never been so pronounced as now. “Playing with none to appreciate is a disturbing thought indeed,” notes Akash Malhotra, now a selector with Delhi and one of the members when North Zone played at Bhilwara.
“We never really worried which hotel we would stay in, which class we would travel and what would be the state of the pitch. All we wanted was to play good cricket and all we really prayed for was a decent pitch. We have been to venues where the dressing rooms were hurriedly erected tents. We never complained because the warmth and affection of officials at the small centres was overwhelming,” remembers former Test fast bowler Sanjeev Sharma.
There is a charm surrounding small venues. Take Meerut for example. Some dedicated cricket lovers, led by Yudhvir Singh, a professor of economics, strive to put their venue at least on the domestic map. “It is like conducting your daughter’s wedding. We have to keep the visitors happy,” says Yudhvir, even if it means catering to some unrealistic demands from some of the ‘stars’ who dare not put up such pressure when playing at Test centres.
From receiving the teams to seeing them off, from organising quality accommodation to giving them adequate playing conditions, the officials of the Meerut Cricket Association see to it that the players do not go away disappointed. “We raise funds through sponsorship and see to it that the players are well taken care of. It is our love for cricket and nothing else,” Yudhvir speaks for many like him, serving cricket in distant centres.
How can one forget Kantibhai Desai of Valsad? A wealthy man, he worked hard to bring cricket to his town, which has hosted close to 50 first-class matches. No airport, no five-star hotel, but Valsad has grown as a cricket venue where the affection of Kantibhai stands tall. All shortcomings are brushed aside as players watch the ever-smiling Kantibhai, taking personal care of the requirements of the teams.
Small centres ensure care and affection and cricketers readily acknowledge this. “I always loved playing at small venues because of the attention we got from the officials and spectators,” says Pravin Amre, who played in many little-known venues but never grumbled. Current national selector Rajinder Singh Hans would narrate stories of his travels to non-descript venues, reaching one particular venue via air, train and finally by road. There was a funny incident of one player booking his ticket to Goregaon in Mumbai instead of Gurgaon near Delhi. Small centres had their woes but carried a romantic attraction for those wanting to play in tough conditions.
“Performance has to be appreciated,” Ajay Jadeja would say. He loves it at Lahli (Rohtak), a small but scenic cricket stadium, surrounded by rice fields, and home to a rustic audience, quite vociferous and quite insistent on watching entertaining stuff. “You have to travel to small venues. That is where you get people at the stadium, cheering or jeering. Audience is important to any sport and I feel it is time we took big games to small centres,” says Jadeja.
When cricketers are coming from rural areas, why not play cricket in their backyard? Anil Kumble is a shining example of taking cricket outside Bangalore. He has set up three venues, in Hubli, Mysore and Shimoga, all quality cricket grounds, all catering to modern requirements, basic yet adequate, and all having hosted first-class matches this year. “We need to take cricket to small places provided there is no compromise on playing conditions. We have three excellent venues outside Bangalore and I’m sure players have enjoyed playing there,” says Kumble.
Thanks to the efforts of Anurag Thakur and noted curator Sunil Chauhan, Himachal Pradesh now has a stadium that hosts international matches, but importantly it has taken cricket to Bilaspur and Hamirpur. “We’re proud of creating excellent cricket facilities in remote areas. It will inspire the youngsters to take to cricket,” notes Thakur. Another cricket centre that stands out is Ranchi, boasting one of the best stadiums in the country. With a brand ambassador like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, this emerging centre has a committed driving force in Amitabh Choudhary, president of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association. “It was a dream to have an international stadium in Ranchi. It is now a source of motivation for all young minds in the state to achieve their dream and play for India,” says Choudhary.
Cricket is moving out of the metros and growing for sure. The administrators have woken up to the reality and accept that the future of cricket lies in rural India. Test centres mainly offer empty galleries. Small centres ensure cricket thrives with an audience to appreciate and applaud. The players want it too!
