The lesser lights of 1986

Former Test player Suru Nayak (left), who served Dadar Union Sporting Club in their Kanga League-winning year of 1986. PIC/MID-DAY ARCHIVES

On popular demand, this column once again features the 1986 Dr HD Kanga Cricket League, as it did last week. While I had largely focused on the India stars who made themselves available for the monsoon tournament 40 years ago, following their return from the 1986 tour of England, several local cricketers got in touch to share their memories of that particular edition. They felt the lesser lights, as it were, also deserved their moment in the spotlight - and I couldn't agree more.

The League got underway as scheduled on July 13, a rarity in itself. At Islam Gymkhana, visitors Cricket Club of India's opening batsmen Jaideep Mathur and Jayprakash Jadhav put on 198 for a new record first-wicket partnership. It remained an A Division record for 21 years, until Sushant Marathe and Nilesh Patwardhan bettered it with 228 for New Hind in 2008.

Jadhav, a former Mumbai Ranji Trophy player better known as JP in cricket circles, told me on Monday that he simply concentrated on playing off the back foot while watching his partner carve out a splendid century, 104. Missing out on a century by 12 runs in that drawn game may have hurt, but JP says another achievement will forever have pride of place in his Kanga League memories. He recalls carrying his bat through the innings for CCI against Shivaji Park Youngsters (SPY) in 1984. That feat, achieved on September 16, 1984, at Brabourne Stadium, remains vivid in his memory. "I scored an unbeaten 44 while my elder brother Deepak [former Mumbai all-rounder] got 25. So, in a total of 88, we scored 69. CCI were terribly depleted for that game, and I remember playing my natural game in the company of veteran Keki Kotwal. I recall umpire Piloo Reporter praising me for taking the aggressive route, even though it endangered my chances of remaining unbeaten through the innings. "Ultimately, we ended up losing a close game as SPY reached their target with two wickets to spare.

"The Kanga League posed big challenges, and it was fun. Sadly, the charm has vanished," said JP, who went on to serve PJ Hindu Gymkhana and is now a Mumbai U-19 selector, while Deepak heads the U-23 panel.

The Pagare brothers provided another memorable family subplot in 1986. Kaluram Pagare of MB Union and Gautam Pagare of Khar Gymkhana clashed on September 14. Kaluram, MB Union's star performer, was one short of a century when his younger brother Gautam's left-arm spin sent him back to the pavilion. The game ended with honours even.

The Kanga League also attracted several players who represented other states. Delhi's senior pro Venkat Sundaram turned out for Jolly Cricketers, Goa's Namdev Fadte represented Sunder CC, while Uttar Pradesh's Sunil Chaturvedi played for Khar Gymkhana. Sundaram and Fadte were in the thick of the action on the opening day, locked in battle at Cross Maidan. Fadte scored 25 in Sunder's 115, which Jolly Cricketers chased down with five wickets to spare; Sundaram contributed 32.

On September 21, Sundaram returned figures of 4-25 to restrict Islam Gymkhana to 139-8 after Jolly Cricketers had declared at 237-4, a total boosted by Mumbai leg-spinner Ajit Sawant's 107. At Khar Gymkhana, Chaturvedi smashed seven sixes and nine fours in an unbeaten 133 during a drawn game against Sunder.

Another centurion of the 1986 edition was Vidyadhar Pednekar, whose strokeful unbeaten 100, containing seven fours and five sixes, challenged Sunder in another drawn game on August 3. On September 14, Sunder beat CCI, with future Mumbai seamer Anoop Sabnis claiming 10 in the game. Wicketkeeper-batsman Girindra Vasudeo was outstanding behind the stumps with five catches. Vasudeo was again behind the wickets when Sabnis took a hat-trick against Dadar Parsee Zorastrian CC the following year. Sabnis, incidentally, is now a Mumbai U-23 selector.

The 1986 edition ended with Dadar Union emerging champions for the 11th time after beating Jolly Cricketers on the first innings at Cross Maidan. The final Jolly wicket fell 10 minutes before the end of play; under the 1986 rule book, play had to finish at 6 pm.

Uday Keluskar (61), Sanjay Manjrekar (36) and the late Avinash Karnik (49) helped the champions declare at 202-6 before Jolly were bowled out for 104. Stalwarts Suru Nayak, the leg-spinner who took 5-40, and off-spinner Kiran Mokashi, who claimed 3-27, were the destroyers. Speaking to some members of that Dadar Union team, I'm told Shridhar Mandale led the side. He, too, is now a Mumbai U-23 selector.

And that, perhaps, is a fascinating thread running through the 1986 Kanga League. Forty years on, many of the players who once battled it out on rain-soaked maidans are still contributing to Mumbai cricket, now as selectors and guiding hands. From JP and Deepak Jadhav (ton for PJ Hindu on the last day) to Anoop Sabnis and Shridhar Mandale, the Kanga League has continued to shape people who remain invested in the game. With so many good guiding hands, Mumbai cricket can only head in one direction - up. Meanwhile, we await the start of action in the 79th Kanga League.

mid-day's Deputy Editor Clayton Murzello is a purist with an open stance.
He tweets @ClaytonMurzello. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
The views expressed in this column are the individual's and don't represent those of the paper.