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By K.R. Nayar From Rajkot  Very little is known about Rajkot-born Amar Sinh, the man who holds the unique distinction of being the first player to receive the India Test cap. While working on 318 Whispers of the India Test Cap, a book on cricketers who have donned India’s Test cap that is scheduled for release on January 13, I spent a lot of time researching this remarkable yet forgotten figure. Amar Sinh was a fast bowler who struck fear into batters, but fate permitted him a tragically short life of just 29 years. One of the key reasons for launching the book in Rajkot is this simple fact that the very first Indian to earn a Test cap hailed from this city. Shailesh Vijay Sinh holds the photo of his grandfather in action Ahead of the book launch, I was keen to trace the roots of this cricketer who occupies a sacred space in the history of Indian Test cricket. Gopal Jasapara, who conceptualised the book and belongs to this city, shared an exciting news one day that Amar Sinh’s gr...

By K.R. Nayar It’s one of the UAE’s hugely participated-in and popular tournaments — the BNW-sponsored All Kerala Colleges Alumni Forum–UAE (AKCAF) organised APL (AKCAF Premier League). What makes this tournament truly special is its scale and spirit — it stands tall as one of the biggest inter-collegiate tournaments held outside Kerala and has firmly established itself as one of the UAE’s most vibrant mass-participation cricket events. With 32 colleges in action, the APL throws open a grand stage for more than 600 cricketers to showcase their talent, passion, and competitive fire. AKCAF's APL team that ensures the excellent conduct of the tournament  Conceptualised and driven by a group of passionate cricket lovers, the tournament has grown steadily and proudly into its fifth edition. This year’s edition will unfold from January 11 to February 15 at the Vision Cricket Centre, promising over a month of thrilling cricket. The organisers leave no stone unturned in ensuring that e...

By K.R. Nayar From Rajkot  It was truly a great feeling to finally meet someone you have long wished to interact with, yet never found the opportunity to do so. From the time Cheteshwar Pujara began piling up runs for India, drawing admiration for his discipline and technical excellence, I had been intrigued by the man behind the making and architect of a Test giant.  When I learned that it was his father Arvind—a coach, a former cricketer, and a tireless mentor—who had shaped that solid foundation, a desire grew within me to meet him. Arvind Pujara ... a tireless mentor  Though I have reported many of Pujara’s defining innings across venues and continents, Arvind Pujara, who resides in Rajkot, remained elusive. Fate, however, had its own timing. Last week, at Rajkot, I finally met him during the ongoing G Force Cricket Academy coaching camp at their newly developed ground at the Rajkot Gymkhana Club premises. We have heard numerous stories of fathers introducing th...