<img title="Sharad Rao. Pic/mid-day archives" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2017/sep/sharad-rao-inswing.jpg" alt="Sharad Rao. Pic/mid-day archives" /> Sharad Rao. Pic/mid-day archives
At the peak of his cricketing career, Mumbai Ranji Trophy pacer Sharad Rao&rsquo;s monsoon Sundays were well spent at the Karnatak Sporting Association ground in Cross Maidan where he displayed his pace bowling wares for his beloved club in a passionate and gentlemanly manner.
This year, the old faithfuls of Mumbai cricket will have only memories to hold on to since Rao passed away after a cardiac arrest on Friday at 60.
Rao belonged to a rare group of players who would guide the younger ones without a fuss and felt the same level of joy when the junior met with success. He would mark out players for a successful career too. Ravi Shastri, who as a teenager played in the same Karnatak side as Rao remembers the fast bowler telling him that a Sikh, who was bowling, batting and fielding with efficiency for Rajasthan Sports Club at the nearby MB Union CC ground, would become a big player someday. That player was Balvinder Singh Sandhu.
Sandhu, the 1983 World Cupper, grew up playing tennis ball cricket with Rao. They figured in the same Bombay University side in 1978-79 but Sandhu played as an off-spinner. He became a swing bowler being in the company of pace bowlers like Rao. "I have lost a dear friend whom I&rsquo;ve known since I was 12. When we got into the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team in 1980-81, we used to say to each other that there shouldn&rsquo;t come a time when we replace each other in the playing XI. Such was our bonding," said a tearful Sandhu.
"I was an off-spinner but my friends were all fast bowlers like Sharad, Vijay Alva, Pradeep Sunderam, Ravi Kulkarni and the late Ramesh Rajde," recalled Sandhu. Rao also played Ranji Trophy cricket for the state of Karnataka.
<img title="Sharad Rao" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2017/sep/sharad-rao-b.jpg" alt="Sharad Rao" /> Sharad Rao
It was Rao whom Sachin Tendulkar first faced in his Kanga League &lsquo;A&rsquo; division debut for Cricket Club of India (CCI) against Karnatak SA at Cross Maidan on August 28, 1988. Tendulkar, then only 15, opened his account with a cracking first-ball six. According to CCI captain Hemant Kenkre, Tendulkar walked in when they were two down for little. He played a neat innings which ended when he was caught at midwicket off Rao. The game was drawn, but Rao claimed four of the seven CCI wickets. "I remember playing against him. He was a respected name in the cricketing circle. It&rsquo;s sad we have lost him," Tendulkar said on Saturday.
Twenty nine Septembers ago, Rao came up with what may have been his most memorable performance for Karnatak SA. Along with Deepak Rai, his new ball partner, Rao helped bowl out Parsi Cyclists for 10, the lowest total in the league's 'A' division history. Rao had figures of 6 for 5 while Rai claimed 4 for 5. Following on, Parsi Cyclists were bundled out for 14 with Rai returning figures of 9 for 3. Rao had earlier top scored for Karnatak SA with 38. A massive innings and 123-run win by the home team was witnessed at the extreme end of Cross Maidan that day.
Shishir Hattangadi, the former Mumbai captain and Rao's one-time teammate at Karnatak SA as well as Tata Sports Club, wrote on Facebook: "One hell of a gentleman&hellip; seen him applaud, apologise and acknowledge batsmen on the pitch. They don&rsquo;t make them like him anymore. Goodbye Sharad."

At the peak of his cricketing career, Mumbai Ranji Trophy pacer Sharad Rao's monsoon Sundays were well spent at the Karnatak Sporting Association ground in Cross Maidan where he displayed his pace bowling wares for his beloved club

Sachin, Shastri pay tributes to departed swing stalwart Sharad Rao

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Home / Sports / Cricket / Article / Sachin, Shastri pay tributes to departed swing stalwart Sharad Rao

Sachin, Shastri pay tributes to departed swing stalwart Sharad Rao

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