When Gujarat played their first ever Ranji Trophy final 66 years ago, their tailend batsman Jasu Patel scored a fighting knock of 152 which went in vain as the famed Holkar outfit walked away with the silverware
Rajesh Patel
Rajesh Patel in Indore. Pic/Prakash Parsekar
Indore: When Gujarat played their first ever Ranji Trophy final 66 years ago, their tailend batsman Jasu Patel scored a fighting knock of 152 which went in vain as the famed Holkar outfit walked away with the silverware.
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Jasu, would never figure in another Ranji Trophy final although he later got picked to bowl off-spin for India in seven Test matches, but his son Rajesh witnessed history on Saturday as Parthiv Patel's team claimed Gujarat's maiden Ranji Trophy win. Rajesh was in Indore as secretary of Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA). "I remember my father telling me about that hundred which he scored coming in at No.10, but he rued not winning the final. The dream which my father had in his playing days has been fulfilled today," the 67-year-old Rajesh told mid-day yesterday after Gujarat beat Mumbai by five wickets at the Holkar Stadium.
Patel credited his team's success to GCA chief Amit Shah, the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "He (Shah) gave us all the facilities and a free hand to build this team. In return, he expected this team to win a Ranji Trophy like they did in the domestic one-day and T20 tournaments," said Rajesh.
Parthiv & Co were immediately rewarded by their state association. "We have declared a prize of Rs 3 crore for our Ranji Trophy-winning team which includes players and all support staff. Our
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