Indian Cricket in 2025 – Episode – 3

Scenario 1: Occasion: The Asia Cup in Afghanistan: The First One-Day Match in Kabul: India v/s Sri Lanka

(The Indian team has arrived in Kabul after losing the Triangular Series in Australia. Actually India had a chance of entering the final if only Sri Lanka had lost the last league match to Australia. But that was not to be. However, Sri Lanka lost to Australia in the finals. Sachin’s search for the elusive 200^th century continues. He has been again included in the team to enable him to achieve the coveted landmark. The Afghan team is in the limelight and has been admitted to the big league. Kabul is venue to such a great event for the first time. There is excitement all-round. The commentators include Gavaskar, Sastri, Rohit Sharma, Ramiz Raja, Wasim Akram, Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardhane)

Gavaskar: So here we are. It is another opportunity to Sachin to complete that coveted landmark! I remember he had completed his 100^th century in Asia Cup held in Bangladesh in 2012. Of course India lost the match and Asia Cup as well!

Sastri: True. One should appreciate the spirit of Sachin even at this age to achieve all types of landmarks! Hats off to him!

Ramiz Raja: It appears to me nowadays India is more focused on Sachin’s achievements than winning the matches. Do you remember when they won their last series?

Wasim Akram: Quite contrary to what happens to such heroes in Pakistan! They are forgotten and consigned to dustbin within no time! I think I need not quote my own example!

Ramiz: You are right Wasim. That is why I forayed into commentary box immediately after retirement. But our fees are nowhere near what Gavaskar and Sastri get!

Dilshan: But you are still better. We in Sri Lanka are paid the fee in installments! To be frank, the fee they paid me last time was for the year 2020! I have maintained an excel sheet for the arrears from 2021 till date!

Mahela: By the by, I am interested to know whether Gavaskar and Sastri are still paid that annual fee of Re one crore by the BCCI? I understand that is over and above the commentary fees paid by the channels. Am I right?

Gavaskar: We do get it regularly even now. But we are perturbed that there has been no increase in the fee after all these years. Not only that even Sharad Pawar Saab took retirement without settling my assured fee of another few crores for IPL-1 & 2!

Wasim: If I remember correctly you are pursuing it since 2011! I appreciate your perseverance!

Gavaskar: I am not going to leave it at any cost. Right now I am pursuing it with Ajit Pawar Saab who has entered the cricket scenario after Sharad Pawar Saab’s retirement on health grounds. He is the current President of BCCI!

Ramiz Raja: Hats off to your patience! I remember your Marathon innings in the inaugural World Cup One-day match in England in 1975!

Rohit: I never heard about it. I am interested to know.

Sastri: Sunny created a record of sorts by playing throughout the match! And it was a 60-over match at that time! He came as opener and ended up not out by lasting till the last ball of the 60^th over!

Rohit: Oh my God! And how many runs he scored? He should have scored the winning run, I presume!

Sastri: No way! India lost by 202 runs! The team scored 132 for the loss of three wickets against England’s massive total of 334 for four!

Dilshan: Can’t believe it! What was Sunny Sir’s score then?

Sastri: He scored 36 runs off 174 balls at a strike rate of 21 (per 100 balls) and remained not out! The total included a single four!

(The discussion ends suddenly. There is stunned silence all around. Gavaskar is looking the other way!)

Gavaskar: (Thank God! The discussion has ended. This is one topic I hate to discuss. Forget about giving any explanation for what I did! I myself do not know till date what made me play that stupid innings! Hope Bishan (Singh Bedi) is not viewing the telecast right now!)

Sastri: The game has begun now. Oh! India has lost the first wicket in the very first ball! That brings Sachin into the game!

Ramiz: Let us make it a point not to mention anything about Sachin’s 200^th century till he actually achieves it.

(India beats Sri Lanka in the match. Sachin fails to achieve the landmark once again)

Scenario 2: Occasion: The Asia Cup in Afghanistan: The One-Day Match in Kabul: India v/s Afghanistan

(India has already played three matches in the series and lost two of them. But Sachin has failed to complete his 200^th century. This is India’s first match against Afghans. Afghans won the toss and elected to bat. The team scored 250 runs. The Indian team has just commenced the innings)

Gavaskar: It is good that Afghans scored 250 runs. If they had made a small score it would have been difficult for Sachin to achieve his landmark!

Ramiz: Oh! It is the same story again. Why don’t you people talk about India winning the match?

Rohit: Sachin is a legend and continues to be so. The whole of India is excited about his achieving the landmark!

Mahela: Oh! India has lost the first wicket! That brings Sachin into the game!

Sastri: Hopefully somebody in the team will put up a partnership to enable Sachin to achieve the landmark.

Wasim: Doesn’t matter even if it is against Afghans - the minnows in the tournament!

Gavaskar: A century is a century against whatever team it is!

(The match moves on. Sachin is playing a defensive waiting game to achieve his landmark. But in the process the run rate slows down and the game slips away. The wickets keep falling around Sachin. India is on the verge of defeat)

Sastri: India has already lost eight wickets. Sachin is in his nineties now! The coveted landmark is just ten runs away!

Ramiz: Another Indian wicket falls! Sachin is on 99 now! The Indian total is also at 199!

Dilshan: Oh! It is the last ball of the 50^th over and Sachin is facing the ball! India has already lost the match!

Sastri: The bowler is taking his own time! Oh! He is on the move now!

Gavaskar: The Little Master pushes the ball to midwicket and takes a single run! Oh! He has achieved the landmark!

Ramiz: In the process India has lost the match with a huge margin!  Now it has almost become a rule that India loses the match when Sachin achieves a record!

Sastri: Forget it! The landmark is achieved and it is time to celebrate! Oh! The entire stadium is giving a standing ovation to Sachin!

Ramiz: I am sorry Sastri. The standing ovation by the crowd is for the Afghan team that has won its first match against Indians!

(The defeat against Afghans results in the elimination of India from the finals. The tournament ends with Pakistan winning the Asia Cup. The newspapers and the TV channels in India go overboard to highlight Sachin’s achievement. Interestingly nobody talks about the defeat of Indian team against the underdogs - the Afghan team!)

Scenario 3: Occasion: The Dinner Party at Mukesh Ambani’s House Antilia in Mumbai to Celebrate Sachin’s 200^th Century

(Sachin arrives at the party. A huge battalion of TV journalists surrounds him as he gets down from the car)

One Journo: Sir! Now that you have achieved the landmark any ideas of retiring from cricket?

Sachin: Let me make it clear to all of you. Nobody should tell me when to retire. I will continue to play so long as I love to play the game. Right now retirement is not in my mind!

Another journo: Sir! But some of your well-wishers are telling that it is the right time for you to retire!

Sachin: Let me tell you. These well-wishers are not the one who got me into cricket!

Another journo: Sir! What about the young and upcoming cricketers? Don’t you think you are denying entry to at least one young cricketer?

Sachin: But that is not my look out! They can wait! They may continue watching me and follow my footsteps!

Another Journo: Sir! I hear that the Congress Party is thinking of nominating you as their candidate in the ensuing President of India election!

Sachin: It would be an honour for me to accept!

Another Journo: What about cricket then? We know you are sure to get elected unanimously!

Sachin: You are trying to put words in my mouth! Let me repeat. I would not retire from cricket even if I am elected as the President of India!

(Sachin moves into Antilia. The party goes on)

------- Concluded-------

A V Krishnamurthy

4th May 2012

Looking Back - Episode – 8

VV Puram was a new branch of the bank and BGR got his first opportunity to show his ability to serve the customers. He was given charge of SB accounts including the opening of accounts. Those days it was a simple affair to open a bank account. All one needed was an introduction. No necessity for photos, address proof, identity card and PAN Card! Compared to today it was virtually a cakewalk! But then even the frauds were also unheard of in those days!

BGR would attend the opening of new accounts on priority. After making all the enquiries he would personally introduce the accounts. His service was so quick that by the time the depositor remitted the cash and came back with the counterfoil, he would prepare the passbook and keep it ready. He would then hand it over duly signed by the supervisor after verification of the counterfoil. He found the job quite satisfying.

The Smart Girl and a ‘Minor’ Problem!

In those days very few ladies used to visit the branch. One day BGR found a smart looking girl at the counter. She was a student of the Mount Carmel College and wanted to open a new account. She filled up the account opening form given by BGR. But before putting the introduction BGR had a doubt about her majority status.  He asked her whether she was minor or major. The girl instantly told him that she was a major. But BGR was not convinced and repeated his question. This made the girl angry and she replied that he may get it confirmed from her mother! BGR patiently explained to her that girls below the age of 18 years were considered as minors. The girl was embarrassed and told him that she was actually seventeen! The story had a happy ending when the girl came back with her mother and opened the account on the very next day!

Punishment for Social Service!

One particular day BGR was leaving for the bank in the morning when a lady from the neighbouring house came running to him. She told him that her husband was seriously unwell and she needed help. BGR rushed to the house with her and found her husband in severe pain suffering from blockage of urine in the bladder. He was an officer in the Syndicate Bank and was staying on the first floor of the house. As he was a hefty man weighing over 80 kg, BGR was unable to move him to the ground floor even with the help of his wife. He had to call other neighbours and somehow he managed to take him to the St. Martha’s Hospital by hiring a taxi.

The hospital doctors gave him emergency treatment and they managed to relieve him from the burden of over 3-4 liters of urine! But that was only at about 2 pm in the day. BGR had to wait in the hospital all the time. As there was very limited availability of telephone services in those days, he could not inform the branch. He thought that he would explain the situation to the manager on the next day.

BGR was at the office early on the next day. The manager did not even have the courtesy to ask what happened to him on the previous day. BGR was straightaway served with a memo calling for an explanation for his absence and why it should not be treated as one without leave and hence on loss of pay! That was the type of attitude of the then manager and the next person in the office one Seshadri, a special assistant!

Recognition from STC

K K Shenoy, the Principal at the Staff Training College (STC), had been very much impressed by the performance of BGR during the training programme. One day BGR was told by his manager M K Shenoy that he had been asked to be at the STC at 1.30 pm. BGR reported at the STC in time. On seeing him alone K K Shenoy asked him where his manager was. It turned out that he had invited M K Shenoy to come along with BGR to address the trainees. Nevertheless he introduced BGR to the trainees stating that he had performed extremely well in the earlier batch. BGR was also asked to address the trainees.

The trainees were all graduates (13 boys and 13 girls) and it was the first time in his life that BGR was addressing a group. He was totally unprepared for the occasion. Shenoy had simply pushed him into the ring! But he rose to the occasion and addressed the batch for about 10 minutes. The speech was well received by the trainees. The opportunity gave him lot of confidence and self-belief. He never looked back. He later came to know that his manager M K Shenoy was poor in vocabulary and that was the reason for him to avoid visiting STC! However, K K Shenoy was very much impressed with BGR’s performance. He continued to invite him to address the trainees for the next six batches.

The Pandyan Challenge!

In the year 1963 the Pandyan Bank Ltd was merged with Canara Bank Ltd. BGR was posted to the Sultan Pet Bangalore branch of the bank for implementing Canara Bank’s procedures and systems. The branch was located in a dungeon like building with hardly any natural light and was full of dust. The branch had very little business with hardly any all round progress. The only major business appeared to be sending of 3-4 telegraphic transfers to Sivakasi branch daily followed by confirmation advices in the evening!

------- (To be continued)

A V Krishnamurthy

2^nd May 2012

I Don’t Know, Son! - 45

The Clean Slate Spoiled!

Son: The Deccan Chargers team had maintained a clean slate in the IPL–5 tournament so far, dad.

Father: How come? Go on son.

Son: They had consistently maintained their status at the bottom of the points table by scoring zero points in each game, dad!

Father: True. Go on, son.

Son: But the rains at the Kolkata match have spoiled their consistent record, dad!

Father: Go on, son.

Son: The team has been awarded one point as the match was cancelled, dad!

Father: I don’t know, son!

Hiding Behind Excuses!

Son: Sunil Gavaskar has written that the Hyderabad coach is hiding behind excuses, dad.

Father: True. Go on, son.

Son: The coach had blamed fielding and the catching, dad.

Father: Go on, son.

Son: Gavaskar has added that hiding behind excuses is no way to go, dad!

Father: Go on, son.

Son: Gavaskar generally avoids such strong words, dad.

Father: Go on, son.

Son: Incidentally the coach is an Australian – Darren Lehmann - and Gavaskar has no love last for the Australians, dad!

Father: I don’t know, son!

Mamata’s 90% Achievement!

Son: A news item in Business Line says that Mamata Banerjee has conducted a review of her government’s performance in the last 11 months, dad

Father: Go on, son.

Son: Mamata says that her team has achieved 90% of the stated agenda, dad!

Father: Interesting. Go on, son.

Son: What is more interesting is that she has said that the 90% achievement is out of her party’s five-year agenda, dad!

Father: Wonderful! Go on, son.

Son: The Bengalese are said to be a worried lot, dad.

Father: How come? Go on, son.

Son: They say that the unfinished 10% agenda may include arrest of some of her known critics, dad! But they are more worried on another count, dad.

Father: Go on, son.

Son: They say that having achieved the five-year agenda in less than a year, Didi may come out with some fresh agenda, dad!

Father: I don’t know, son!

Beyond Imagination!

Son: Turner Broadcasting System has announced the closure of Imagine TV overnight - effective from 13 April 2012, dad.

Father: True. Go on, son.

Son:  The company had bought the channel from NDTV in 2010, dad.

Father: Go on, Son.

Son: The sudden decision of the company has placed the channel’s employees and stakeholders including the television producers off guard, dad.

Father: Go on, son.

Son: The channel had also planned Veena (the Pakistani TV artist) Ka Swayamvar on the lines of Rakhi Ka Swayamvar, dad!

Father: Go on, son.

Son: All the stakeholders were so shocked that they simply said that it was beyond their imagination, dad!

Father: I don’t know, son!

A V Krishnamurthy

25^th April 2012

Looking Back - Episode – 7

The fact that BGR and his three other colleagues could complete the CAIIB examination even though they were matriculates was not a simple achievement. In fact the passing the exam was a tricky affair. There were several qualified officers in the bank who could never complete this exam in spite of their best efforts. Indeed the exam was a great leveler of sorts. One could even call it highly secular or democratic or whatever! The exam had a reputation of delivering shocking results to those who were very proud of their abilities. One could even find officers with CA qualification failing in the Accountancy subject and Post-graduates in English failing in English!

Some of the directly recruited officers were afraid of taking the exam as they could not envisage failing in some subjects - thereby denting their self-assumed reputation! Some of them were even giving some strange reasons for their inability to take the exam. However, the most bizarre explanation was offered by a popular manager to me when I was inspecting his branch as a junior officer in the early eighties. The following was the conversation I had with him:

Me: Sir! You are a very popular and reputed manager and your branch has performed excellently. You are a post-graduate. How is that you have not completed your CAIIB?

Manager: I have specific reasons for the same. Are you interested to know?

Me: Sure. Please.

Manager: It is actually a matter of principle for me. I am against two principles laid down in two major subjects in the exam.

Me: Interesting. Will you kindly elaborate?

Manager: Sure. You know the basic principle in accountancy – ‘debit what comes in and credit what goes out’. I find it ‘morally incorrect’!

Me: How come?

Manager: In my opinion we should give credit to what comes in and debit to what goes out. How can you give credit to something that is not interested in you and wants to leave you for good! On the other hand the thing that comes in deserves the full credit! Is there a thing called morality or not?

Me: Amusing! What about the other principle?

Manager: This one is from the foreign exchange subject. Here the basic principle is supposed to be – ‘buy high and sell low’. I find it logically in correct!

Me: How come?

Manager: The very basic thing in any business is to buy the commodity at a lower rate and sell it at a higher rate. Is it not?

Me: Sir! But…..

Manager: What surprises me more is that even the so called Bible for the subject – Foreign Exchange by Keshkamat - also highlights the same principle! Can you believe Kamath Maam telling somebody to lose money in a business?

Me: Sir! But will you kindly allow me to explain?

Manager: No way! I know you have completed the CAAIIB exam! You will naturally support the theory! But let me stick to my principle!

(The conversation ended there. I leave it to the imagination of the readers whether the manager really meant it! He told me he was quite serious and it was not a joke)

------o----- --o--- -----o------o-------0-----0------0------0-------0------0-------0-----

Six months after joining the bank, BGR was appointed as the probationary clerk by the bank and his emoluments were fixed as follows:                                   

Basic Pay	Rs69.00
DA	Rs57.86
HRA	Rs6.00
Total	Rs132.86

In the year 1959 when BGR joined the bank it had aggregate deposits of Rs22 crore and a network of 63 branches. The bank was classified as a grade B bank as the deposits were less than Rs25 crore. However, the deposits rose to Rs25 crore as on 31 December 1959. The bank was reclassified as A grade bank with effect from 01.01.1960. As a result, all the employees were rewarded with two increments. BGR got the benefit almost immediately after his joining. Again the Bangalore City was upgraded as A grade city from B grade with effect from 01.01.1962. It resulted in payment of CCA and additional HRA to the employees.

The year 1963 saw the Administrative Office of Canara Bank being shifted to the new building in JC Road. It was inaugurated by the then Governor of Mysore (the ex-Maharaja of Mysore) Shri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar. The building stands as a landmark for over 50 years now.

BGR worked in the Administrative Office for three years and thought it was right time for him to move on. He needed basic training for the purpose. It needed lot of pestering and ultimately he was posted for an 8-week training programme at the Staff Training College (STC). He was clearly told by R K Ghotgolkar that he should get back after completing the training. But BGR had other ideas!

There were 24 persons in the training batch including graduates and post-graduates. The training covered deposits, advances and general matters. B V Bhandary, the DGM, attended a function at the end of the programme. The principal K K Shenoy told him that BGR’s performance during the training was exceptionally good. Bhandary assured him that he would post him to a good branch so that his knowledge is put to good use. He kept his assurance. BGR was posted to V V Puram branch much to the chagrin of Ghotgolkar! So BGR had his first opportunity to deal with the customers in the bank.

------- (To be continued)

A V Krishnamurthy

22nd April 2012

Indian Cricket in 2025 – Episode -2

Scenario 2: Occasion: The Test Match Series in Australia: The Fourth & the Final Test in Adelaide

(The Indian team has already lost the test series by losing all the three test matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Sachin has failed to score his 200th century. The other senior players Laxman and Sehwag have hardly crossed the two-digit scores in the three matches. What is more worrying is that Virat Kohli who had claimed the role of Rahul Dravid in the team has also failed miserably. He was out clean bowled in most of his innings. There are strong rumours that there are differences between the Skipper Goni (not Dhoni) and Sehwag. There are also rumours that Laxman may be dropped for the final match and Kohli may announce his retirement after the final test. However, discussion on Sachin continues to be a taboo! The commentary team is the same as for the first test match)

Gavaskar: So here we are. I understand India will play the same team by retaining all the seniors. The team management could not even decide on dropping Laxman - forget about dropping Sehwag, Kohli or Sachin!

Sastri: The Indian team has won the toss and decided to bat. The opening pair is already here. The game begins.

Rahul Sharma: The way things are going, I think I took the best decision to opt for joining the commentary team. See what is happening to Virat after achieving glory all these days. He is getting out clean bowled almost in every innings!

Clarke: The Indians used to say he has succeeded Rahul Dravid, the Wall! It seems he is following him literally!

Sastri: Perhaps you are right. I remember Rahul telling that he need not bother about getting bowled anymore at the time of announcing his retirement in 2012.

Gavaskar: Oh! India has already lost the first wicket! That brings Sachin into the game. Will he score the 200^th ton? Or won’t he? The question comes up again!

Sastri: Quire interestingly the situation is similar to what happened in the 2011-12 test series!

Brett Lee: It seems you people are more tensed up than Sachin! I feel we should stick to our routine comments!

Sastri: Sure. Sachin faces the first ball now. He knows the importance of the game!

Rahul: Sir! This is one routine comment you have been making since ages! I am the junior most among the commentators here. If you don’t mind, I want to ask you something!

Sastri: Please go ahead.

Rahul: For that matter every player in the team is expected to know the importance of the game he is playing. And as far as Sachin is concerned he has been playing the game since ages! Is it not, sir?

Gavaskar: I agree. It is a cliché to say that one knows the importance of the game! I am sure I am not using any such clichés!

Clarke: In my opinion there is actually no importance to this game as India has already lost the series! As far as Sachin is concerned there can be only one importance and we all know that!

Bret Lee: Coming back to clichés, I should tell you that the Ian Chapel’s School of Cricket Commentary conducts a special session on how to avoid using clichés during the commentary!

Sastri: I am hearing it for the first time. Tell me more about it. I am interested.

Clarke: I can understand. For your information all the three of us (Bret Lee, Watson and I) were trained in the Ian’s School.

Watson: Guess who has contributed maximum clichés to the repository in the Ian’s school!

Bret Lee: And no prizes for guessing it right! It is none other than Ravi Sastri!  Hats off to you sir!

Gavaskar: There are no two opinions on the quality of commentary of the legendary Ian. It is good that he has started a school for the upcoming commentators. He is perhaps second only to the legendary Richie Benaud the greatest commentator of all times.

Bret Lee: It is pleasant to hear some nice words from Gavaskar at least about two Australians! I am sure you will not dispute the fact that you are a known Australian baiter, sir!

Clarke: In fact Ian holds one special session on how to handle instigation by known baiters of Australians during the commentary!

Watson: And guess who is the topmost baiter of Australians as per Ian?

Bret Lee: Again no prices for guessing it right! It is Gavaskar and nobody else!

Gavaskar: I can understand. Ian appears to be right! But I am sure at least I have not contributed anything to the list of clichés held by Ian!

Clarke: We shall come back to it at the appropriate time. You may wait, sir!

Sastri: Oh! Sehwag has given a simple catch again. That brings Laxman into the game.

Gavaskar: The way the things have gone so far in the series I am sure Little Master will have butterflies in his stomach as his partners depart one by one!

Bret Lee: Sir! Please do not mistake. I have been hearing this butterfly stuff from you many times. Is it not a cliché again?

Watson: Sir! You are calling Sachin Little Master even now. Is it not the right time to call him the Grandmaster?

Clarke: I understand he has already become a Grandfather with the arrival of Abhimanyu!

Gavaskar: Oh! The entire Australian bunch is after me! (I have a hunch that the bunch is trying to push me towards retirement! Forget about Sachin’s retirement!)

Sastri: Oh my God! Virat is clean bowled again! Now the skipper Goni is joining Sachin and he is under pressure again!

Rohit: Oh my God! Sachin has given a simple catch! The hunt for the 200^th ton continues!

(Sachin departs. The game continues. India loses the match again. Australia wins the series 4:0. Sachin’s search for the 200^th ton continues)

------- (To be continued)

A V Krishnamurthy

19th April 2012

Looking Back - Episode – 6

Often I used to wonder how BGR could develop such leadership qualities. I have found him a well organised man who is capable of getting things done - at the right time invariably. He also has a special skill to identify the right people for different types of work. He invariably gets the things done and knows the art of extracting work from persons who are capable. To be precise, he is a taskmaster! I have even seen some officers trying to escape his attention! They knew quite well that he will not only assign work, but also gets it done!

As I proceed with writing his initial working days in the bank I may perhaps be revealing some of the secrets of his leadership qualities! Certain situations did help him to develop such quality. The first such occasion was bidding farewell to his first mentor Somnath Narayan - hardly within a fortnight of his joining duties.

Somnath saw to it that BGR learnt the typing work in a systematic way. He had a smiling face, never would get angry and was a master in making people working with him feel at home. He had developed an art of making newcomers comfortable without getting upset under any circumstances. He left a lasting impression on BGR in his initial days in the bank.

Hardly after a week of BGR’s joining the bank, M V Bhat, the Accountant, called BGR and Somnath and told Somnath that the bank had decided to consider his request for a transfer to Madras. He was asked to train and guide BGR fully including typing of Board Notes. BGR was also told to pick up work fast and get all the necessary guidance from Somnath. So that was it! Somnath was relieved after a week. BGR bid him farewell with tears in his eyes.

Within a short time the other two typists were also transferred and some new recruits were posted in their place. The process was on an on-going basis and only persons who had proficiency were retained and others were sent away. It was now the turn of BGR to train the new recruits!

BGR utilized the opportunity to his full advantage. He used to type letters drafted by clerks to top executives. He remembers about a superintendent called R K Ghotgolkar who used to handle industrial relations and was an authority on Desai & Sastri Awards. This gentleman would sit with BGR and dictate letters for hours together. One day he dictated an enquiry proceedings from 10 am to 1 pm continuously. BGR went on typing simultaneously and completed the 16 pages report error-free! He used to keep the Oxford English dictionary with him and used it extensively to know the correct spelling. He could improve his written and spoken English tremendously even as a matriculate. That stood him well in his career as he could draft and type out letters independently. It was quite in contrast to the other new recruits who were sent to the branches.

Bombay Calling!

BGR’s working capacity was fully tested on a special occasion. The Lions Club District Conference was held in Town Hall in the year 1961. The DGM BV Bhandary called him and introduced him to two Lions Club officials and asked him to type their letters exclusively for about three days. The two were businessmen from Bombay. They would visit the bank three-four times a day and BGR attended their work promptly. The two gentlemen were so impressed with his work that they offered him an appointment in Bombay with accommodation! BGR declined their offer politely. They left their visiting cards with him telling him that their doors were always open for him! If only BGR had accepted the offer, the contents of this biography and the author would have been different!

The CAIIB Challenge!

There was no promotion policy in the bank in those days. The CAIIB examination was being held only once in a year. One or two clerks at the all India level would pass the exam in a year and the bank used to promote them on an ad-hoc basis. It was the year 1961.  BGR had fully settled down in his job. He, along with some of his colleagues – B R Udupa, Vasanth Rai and I S Bhat – decided to take the examination. BGR was the first person to fill up the application form and he went to the superintendent K Anantha Kamath for his counter signature. Kamath simply laughed at BGR. He told him in a loud voice that even the directly recruited officers (graduates with ranks) were finding it difficult to pass the examination in three attempts as required. According to him when that was the case - where was the question of a matriculate like BGR passing the examination? He felt BGR was getting too ambitious!

But Kamath’s efforts to dissuade BGR from taking the examination failed. BGR told him that he knew it was a challenge and he was fine with that. Kamath grudgingly signed the form. BGR told the other three persons about Kamath’s attitude and asked them to get their application signed. All of them got the same treatment from Kamath. But he had in fact done them a favour! All the four took it as a challenge. They completed the part I in two attempts and proved that Kamath had underestimated their capabilities! All the four also completed the Part II by 1965.

------- (To be continued)

A V Krishnamurthy

16th April 2012

Indian Cricket in 2025 - Episode -1

Sachin Tendulkar has flatly denied that he has any plans of retirement from first class cricket in the near future. He has also almost made it clear that the selection committee has absolutely no role to play in his retirement plans. The present BCCI selection committee chairman K Srikkanth has agreed that Sachin alone can decide about his retirement.  It appears that the selection of Sachin will be mandatory till he decides to retire! The way the things have turned out at so far indicate how the state of affairs of Indian cricket could be in the year 2025. The following could be the scenario:

Scenario 1: Occasion: The Test Match Series in Australia: The First Test in Melbourne

(The Indian team has arrived in Australia after losing the test series in England. The team includes seniors like Sachin, Laxman and Sehwag. Sachin has already completed 199 centuries in test matches and one-day matches put together. There are huge expectations that he may score his 200^th century in Melbourne. Arjun Tendulkar (son of Sachin) and Aryaveer (son of Sehwag) are also in the Indian team. However, both of them are not in the playing eleven and have been asked to sit out. The commentary team includes Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Sastri, Rohit Sharma, Michael Clark, Shane Watson and Bret Lee).

Sunil Gavaskar: It is really interesting to find history repeating in Australia. Well Sastri!  Do you remember it was exactly 14 years ago that we were expecting Sachin to complete his 100^th century here in the year 2011?

Sastri: You are right Sunil! Now we are expecting Sachin to complete his 200^th century!

Gavaskar: We should appreciate the spirit and determination of Sachin even at this age! Of course the only regret is that he has blocked the entry of his own son Arjun into the playing eleven!

Sastri: Let us hope that he completes his 200^th century here and allows his beloved son to enter the big league.

Gavaskar: BCCI is right. They have allowed Sachin to play so that he can achieve the coveted 200^th century. I feel the matter of retirement should be left to the individual in any field!

Clark: Pardon me Sir! I hope I am not misunderstood!  Are you talking about the retirement of commentators also?

Gavaskar: This is what I call the Australian mentality! I am sure you are talking about me and Sastri! Am I right?

Sastri: Let me tell you Clark, we had a radio commentator called Vizzy (the late Maharajkumar of Vizianagaram) in the late fifties and sixties. He was so old that the audience could not even make out whether he was making cricket commentary or commentary on a horse race!

Gavaskar: He had forced himself upon the hapless listeners because he was a royal personality. You may not believe this! He was even the captain of Indian team in the 1936 test series even though he could hardly play!

Clark: I am sorry I raked up some unnecessary issue. (Hope Gavaskar does not walk away from the commentary team like he did in one of test matches here in Australia once upon a time!)

Sastri: Let us come back to the present game. Oh! India has already lost the first wicket for no score!

Gavaskar: That brings Sachin into the game. Hope he is not under pressure from the media to score his 200^th century! He should be allowed to play his natural game!

Sastri: Oh! Sehwag has given an easy catch! That brings Laxman into the game. Hope he helps Sachin to achieve the coveted milestone!

Clark: Don’t you people think that it is such comments that bring pressure on Sachin? I feel we should concentrate on the game only.

Gavaskar: I agree. It appears that the team management is taking a decision to rest one of the seniors in the next match to help Arjun Tendulkar to play his first test match.

Rohit Sharma: I also heard that. Do you people remember that exactly 14 years ago there was this rotation policy to accommodate me in the team?

Sastri: True. But that you failed to utilize the opportunity is another story of course!

Rohit: I agree. In fact my test match career came to an end in view of the decision to retain the seniors indefinitely to help them create all sorts of records! Fortunately I ended up as a commentator! (That I have again landed among senior citizens is another story of course!)

Gavaskar: Oh! Laxman has given a simple catch again! And to think that Laxman was a hero against the Australian teams once upon a time!

Watson: That brings Virat Kohli into the game.

Rohit: He is the only cricketer from our generation in the present Indian team. The rest are all either the seniors or the younger lot!

Sastri: Oh! Virat has started well. Sachin is now nearing the score of 80. Hope he does not think of the milestone now!

Bret Lee: I am here in the pavilion now to interview Arjun Tendulkar! Arjun what do you think? Do you expect your father to achieve the milestone in this match?

Arjun: Of course! My mother has hinted me I can hope to get into the test eleven the moment my father completes this milestone!

Bret Lee: What happens if he continues to fail?

Arjun: In that case even my son Abhimanyu does not stand a chance! My father has made it clear that nobody else can take a decision on his behalf! (There is a huge furor in the stadium at this stage)

Bret Lee: Oh! It seems Sachin got out for 99! Let me hand it back to Gavaskar.

Gavaskar: Oh! We have to wait for the second innings now. Sachin is walking back!

------- (To be continued)

A V Krishnamurthy

11th April 2012