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By K.R. Nayar in Rajkot Cricket memorabilia collectors have always been crazy about the game. I have met many who are willing to go to any extent to swell their collection. They treasure them preciously, deriving immense joy just watching them every day. During the G Force Cricket Academy tour of Rajkot, I met a young memorabilia collector - Shrey Pranav Mehta. He is only 19-years old but his collections amazed me. What was most surprising was that he has collected 98 signatures of the 108 ICC Hall of Fame inductees!   Shrey Pranav Mehta with the 1983 World Cup team players' signatures   The determination this boy has shown to get actual signatures from these legends who are in the Hall of Fame, with some of them having passed away much before he was born, is truly amazing.  Writing to the different cricket boards as well as contacting those who were close to the legends and had the signature of those who passed away, and also by personally getting it from many...

By K.R. Nayar in Rajkot G Force Cricket Academy’s tour is a journey for every student to transform into a good cricketer. Rajkot is the place from where Mahatma Gandhi’s journey of transforming himself from Mohandas to Mahatma began. So the G Force Under-11 boys were taken on a trip to the Mahatma Gandhi Museum here in Rajkot to get a feel of how an ordinary man from humble surroundings could rise to such great heights and become known as the ‘Father of the nation’.   G Force Under-11 boys at the Mahatma Gandhi Museum  The museum is located in the school where Gandhiji did his basic schooling and was previously called the Mohandas Gandhi Vidhyalaya. It was also a great feeling to visit his home located in a narrow by-lane, walkable from this museum. It is said that Gandhiji imbibed the foundations of his beliefs that made him a Mahatma while living here.   G Force boys had an inspiring tour of the museum  A guide explained to the boys everything about Gand...

By K.R. Nayar in Rajkot Half centuries from Varshil J Dhamecha and Saif Ali Khan provided G Force Under-16 team an impressive victory over Real Cricket Academy at the Morbi Cricket ground on Sunday. Chasing a total of 251 set by Real Cricket Academy in a 40 over match, G Force won in 33.2 overs. The architects of G Force’s four wicket win were Varshil J Dhamecha who cracked 57 runs off 45 balls with nine boundaries and a six. Saif Ali Khan scored an unbeaten 52 runs off 28 balls with three boundaries and five sixes.     Saif Ali Khan and Varshil Dhamecha  G Force Under-16 won the toss and elected to field. Real Cricket Academy posted an impressive total of 251 in 40 overs. Darsh Desai picked an early wicket removing opener Kuldeep Sonagra for 8. This was followed by a 110 runs partnership between opener Yagnesh Pandya and Dhyey Gadhiya.   Dhawnit Parmar ended the partnership by dismissing Yagnesh Pandya for 63, stumped by wicketkeeper Dhwanit for 63. His k...

By K.R. Nayar in Jamnagar Over the years I have come across numerous cricket coaches and a few special ones. Mahendrasinh Chauhan, whom I met in Jamnagar soon after the G Force Cricket academy team arrived there to play their matches against Jamnagar District Cricket Association, is one such coach who is different from many others. I had heard many tales about Chauhan, and my interaction with him convinced me that he is indeed a unique coach.   Mahendrasinh Chauhan  Chauhan is the childhood coach of India’s finest allrounder Ravindra Jadeja. It was from him that Jadeja learned the basics of the game though Chauhan does not like to take the credit for grooming Jadeja into an outstanding allrounder. “I am the coach for the Jamnagar team and that is what I am. I am the coach for every child who comes to me to learn the game,” he remarked. While he accepts that it was he who groomed Jadeja, he refuses to take credit over Jadeja becoming a star player.   ...

By K.R. Nayar in Rajkot Cricket tours are fun but at times it can also give us sad memories reminding us that happiness and sadness are both an integral part of our lives. We are also reminded that life is highly unpredictable and that death often walks in like an uninvited guest. On the night of December 22, G Force Cricket Academy’s Head Coach Gopal Jasapara’s mother, who had travelled with us from Dubai and was staying with us at the Four Seasons hotel in Rajkot, died in a car accident. She was returning to the hotel after meeting her relatives in their native village in Rajkot. Pramilaben Pranjivan Jasapara was 78 years old.   Pramilaben Pranjivan Jasapara  It was with great happiness that she had travelled with us all the way from Dubai on December 19, proudly watching her son Gopal steering a contingent of 40 on the Rajkot cricket tour. The plane was almost full with her son’s academy students.    Gopal Jasapara with his late father Pranjivan Jasapara...

By K.R. Nayar in Jamnagar Jamnagar is known as the ‘Oil City’ of India. It the home to the Essar Oil Refinery and Reliance Industries’ largest Oil Refining and Petrochemical Complex. For a sports lover, especially cricket fans, it is the birth place of top cricketers like Vinoo Mankad and Ravindra Jadeja.  Interesingly, two of India’s great cricket competitions, the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy are named in memory of the Princes of Jamnagar – Ranjitsinhji and Duleepsinhji.   G Force Academy boys in front of the Cricket Bungalow in Jamnagar  A statue of the legendary Indian left-arm bowler, Vinoo Mankad, in action, at a crowded roundabout in the city catches everyone’s attention. G Force Academy’s tour match was held on the ground close to that roundabout. Facing the ground is an old bungalow known as the ‘Cricket Bungalow’, which is the ground’s pavilion. As one walks in to the ground, one only hears the sound of the bat hitting the ball. This is because the ground ...