Gateway 080211.pmd - Rotary Club of Bombay

WHEN THE PREBEAT THE ‘BHAVLining up before the match for the introductions(above). Played in true sporting spirit, thegentleman’s game had the players turning out inall whites on the morning of January 22.They were formally introduced to PresidentPradeep SaxenaThere was more action beyond the boundary Akshay Ramchandra Kharat from the Colabaropes at the festive cricket match between the centre was the Captain.Rotary Club of Bombay President’s XI and theBhavishya-Yaan XI at the scenic P.J. HinduSoon, another set of rival teams was formed.While one consisted of members who supportedGymkhana on Marine Drive on January 22. the Rotary XI, the other one had come prepared toLeading the winning team back to the pavilion. Although Sports Chairman Moy Biswas was vociferously support the Bhavishya-Yaan XI lestHoshang Nazir, who took four wickets, leads the the first to arrive, all 27 players (12 from the Club the boys felt the absence of voices supporting them.team back to the pavilion. At left is Mohankumar and 15 from Bhavishya-Yaan) made it to the ground The match was arranged by the Sports Committeelong before 8.30 am. Interested members trickled insoon after and then the fun and games started.As the guffaws over some sporting jokes rangout loud and clear, Captain Deepak Kapadia (whois a member of the Hindu Gymkhana) invited theteam to enjoy some snacks and tea.Promptly, and as if on cue, a line of youngsters –who turned out to be members of the Bhavishya-Yaan XI – ran a brisk lap of the ground.The snacks remained suspended in mid-air andsome awkward questions were raised. “Who arein association with the Education forAll Committee, which has Alok Sekhsaria asChairman.The captains went out to the centre for the toss,with President Pradeep spinning the coin. TheBhavishya-Yaan captain called correctly and askedthe President’s XI to bat. “That’s exactly what wewanted,” said a team member. “Just you wait,” saidanother, “the pitch is wet with overnight dew andthe bowlers will give you some chin music.”Something fishy happened after that. SomeoneAt the end of the match, President Pradeep those boys? Don’t tell me they are our competitors?Good Lord! They’re all limbering up and get-snacks specially served up for them. Snacks justinvited the Bhavishya-Yaan team to partake ofpresented memento to all the players. Here he iswith the rival captain, Akshay Kharat ting charged for the match and here we are gorging before taking the field in a cricket match? Did iton batata-wadas! We’re done for it!”Some wadas were reluctantly put back on emptyplates and glasses of sweet chai quietly placed onthe table. But the message had been conveyed. Theboys were getting ready for the fight.Were all the President’s men going to be up to it?We’ll beat them, said an unconvincing voice. They’rejust little boys, responded another. Hope yourbones, joints and muscles don’t let you down, saidsmack of sabotage? What would the boys do on thefield all those snacks inside them?To cut a long story short, the match started alittle after 10 am by which time the sun was shininghard and bright, quickly drying up the slipperyoutfield. The Hindu Gymkhana lent its pair ofumpires and Mr. Eruch Irani and Mr. Anmol Purohitsettled down with the scorebook.In a scene reminiscent of the first over bowleda third.by Zaheer Khan in the World Cup Final againstThe match was won by the President’s XI, but the By the time the game ends, said the wise one, Australia in 2007, the very first over was full ofreal victor was the spirit of brotherhood and you’ll rediscover several aching bones and muscles wide balls. Zaheer had bowled five wide balls, butFellowship that the match fostered which you had forgotten existed in your body. the Bhavishya-Yaan youngster bowled eight. TalkThe Hindu Gymkhana presented gifts to the‘Bhavishya-Yaan’ team, thanks to DeepakKapadia (right)Suitably chastised, the President’s men consumedthe first round of tea – and just then the bearersreappeared with another set of dishes. But the cricketersin the team did not stay on to relish the secondcourse. Most of them went out to the playingarea and started practising.Soon, it was time for the President to be introducedto the rival teams. Moy and Deepak did thehonours for the Rotary team.The 15 youngsters from the rival team were introducedby their coordinators, viz., Bijal Kara,Nandita Patodia and Sandeep and Soma Dasgupta.Five boys each had been chosen from the Bhavishya-Yaan centres at Byculla, Colaba and Worli.of big match jitters!Opening batsmen Vipul Ambani and Sohil Shahfound it rather difficult to connect, what with theball passing them at a distance of two feet.But Sohil (brother-in-law of Anand Dalal)quickly found his bearings and started smashingthe ball all around the field. He finally emerged asthe highest scorer for the team and provided theinitial impetus that saw it race off to a score of 100in just under 10 overs.Other batsmen who did well for the President’sXI were Ashwin Thakkar, Mohankumar, RahulPunjabi and Sharan Daswani (the latter two fromthe SIFE of H.R. College). Also in the team wereFebruary 8 to February 14, 2011 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 4