Mumbai Diary: Sunday Dossier

That’s so Tuff on Phil

Nasser Hussain; Phil Tufnell. Pics/Getty Images

However skilled a spinner is, selectors and teams look for that bit extra he or she can offer as a batter. In short, there is no room for rabbits with the bat.
Nasser Hussain, the astute England captain-turned-broadcaster, recalled how the England set up during his time preferred a spinner who could bat a bit instead of a fine tweaker who had no chance of sticking around at the crease. “My former England coach Duncan Fletcher always wanted complete cricketers in his team. I absolutely loved captaining Phil Tufnell, who was a wonderful left-arm spinner, but we had to move on from him because he didn’t bat and didn’t field, and we picked Ashley Giles, who was very good at gully and got you useful runs,” wrote Hussain in his Daily Mail column last Thursday.

Wonder what Tufnell, who likes speaking his mind will think of his former skipper’s thoughts. We think he won’t be pleased, but then Tuffers (Tufnell’s nickname) has a sense of humour and will probably laugh about it now.

Tile travails in the park

Posteriors park here and aesthetics need attention

We are back at our favourite hunting ground — Shivaji Park. We had previously flagged what one would call in local lingo the “katta” seating around the Park, as its cheery yellow and orange tiles were showing signs of breakage, wear and tear. Today, we see that the tiles have completely come off; like the monsoon skies, the seating is grey too, and there is a need to re-do the space, either re install those tiles or do so in another way. Maybe the rains are a deterrent right now, but the shiniest diamond in Mumbai’s cultural spine (from Siddhivinayak to Mahim) as it is called, needs some attention.

Mahjong, majja ma!

The Mahjong Network was founded by (from left) Maneka Daswani, Ishira Kumar, and Ria Bajaj 

If you’re a mahjong fan, or want to learn the game but can’t find partners to play with, these Mumbai women have your back. After all, they went through pretty much the same thing before they decided to set up The Mahjong Network, a community of hundreds of players across Mumbai, Delhi, and Dubai. “The network was born out of the simplest need — we were three women constantly on the lookout for a fourth player to complete the table. The idea was almost too simple: what if you could just find your players on a WhatsApp chat?” says co-founder Ria Bajaj. 

Bajaj says she realised how keen UAE players are, during a visit there. “That was the push we needed. One step forward, a little faster  — while expanding across India,” she says.

For an evening of majja with mahjong, the community will now come together on August 1, World Mahjong Day at Kathiwada City House in Worli.

Tales from a wine-meister 

Sonal C Holland

A memior and a masterclass rolled into one, is how the book was described to us, and the story of India’s first Master of Wine, Sonal C Holland, is intriguing indeed.

One In A Billion is Holland’s telling of her journey from a “traditional” corporate job to becoming the first recipient of the Master of Wine title in India. A certified wine educator with globally recognised qualifications in spirits, sake, shochu and beer, Holland is also a consultant, broadcaster, and the founder of the India Wines And Spirits Award competition. 

Master of Wine is a title held by fewer than 450 people worldwide, and One in a Billion captures the grit and grace behind Holland’s quest for it, as she balanced motherhood, gruelling study sessions, and years of travel.

The book, published by Westland Books and available on Amazon, also offers glimpses into the fascinating world of wine, how to develop wine tasting skills, wine experts’ experiences, and India’s evolving wine culture. Holland says, “The book is a reminder to carve your own path and to realise that success isn’t where you stop, it’s where you rise higher. I hope it uncorks a fierce self-belief within the readers.”

Creating kindness

Community accountability is the key for Siddhesh Lokare. Pic/IG@sidiously

Mumbai-based influencer Siddhesh Lokare is changing the way we think about giving, with Kindly Club, India’s first influencer-led fundraising platform. Designed to make charity more transparent, the platform offers real-time updates on how donations are spent, even as the funds are being raised. 

“There are enough stories of goodwill getting lost in paperwork and broken systems. Kindly Club is my way of fixing that, with honesty and community accountability,” says Lokare. Kindly Club connects donors with the impact they’re making, from the first rupee to the final report. In a space where trust is everything, Lokare is proving that fundraising can be just as authentic and human as the causes it supports.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!