Sunil Gavaskar in Kerala on the day the state team creates Ranji Trophy history

By K.R. Nayar 

Dubai. The legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar landed in Kerala on the day the state team created history by reaching the Ranji Trophy final. He was traveling from Mangalore to Kasaragod to attend a function organized by the Kasaragod Municipality, which has named a road after him, when this reporter informed him about Kerala securing the crucial two-run lead that ultimately decided the semifinal winner.

Sunil Gavaskar in Kasaragod for the naming of his road function.

“It is wonderful news,” he remarked, looking forward to the grand reception in Kasaragod, which would showcase the deep love of the people there for cricket. Gavaskar’s presence in Kerala on this historic day for Kerala cricket is akin to the legendary footballer Pelé’s presence in a footballing milestone. Late on Friday evening, thousands gathered to cheer for Gavaskar.

Sunil Gavaskar being driven in an open vehicle cheered by fans   

With Kerala reaching the Ranji Trophy final, it has also proved that dreams can come true. There was a time when Kerala struggled to secure even a single victory during a Ranji Trophy season. Back then, many of my friends, as young cricketers, dreamed of reaching a final. It was those dreams that kept many going, even though everyone knew how impossible it seemed in those days.

I feel proud of the present Kerala team and its players for making this dream a reality. They may not fully understand what Kerala cricket was like in the past. There were times when the team lost in just two days in a Ranji Trophy match. It wasn’t due to a lack of enthusiasm among players but rather a lack of proper training facilities to hone their skills.

There are several reasons why this is a special day for me. I was once the joint secretary of the Trivandrum District Cricket Association and also qualified as an umpire from this state. Those were the days when the Kerala Cricket Association didn’t even have an office of its own. The Kerala South Zone inter-district junior match winners didn’t even have a trophy to compete for, so I bought one and named it after my late father. Many had hoped for this special day, though winning the Ranji Trophy would be the ultimate glory.

Kerala’s performance in this Ranji Trophy is a lesson for every budding cricketer. In the quarterfinal match against Jammu and Kashmir, they won due to a first-innings lead of just one run, and in the semifinal, they gained a slender two-run lead over Gujarat. While players are constantly reminded of the importance of every run, every wicket, and every catch, only in moments like these does one truly grasp its significance.

There were many coaches in Kerala, but none were celebrity coaches. As a Kerala coaching committee member years ago, I was responsible for assigning coaches to various centers. Whether it was veteran coach Ganesh, cricketer-turned-coach Mackey, or Sreekumar, all of them worked tirelessly to groom talent with a positive approach. Despite Kerala’s struggles at the top level in tournaments, their enthusiasm remained unwavering. Today, many former cricketers have turned into coaches.

Kerala securing a place in the final is also a lesson for all state teams that have yet to make an impact. This team has proven that with passion, enthusiasm, and determination, one can compete among the best. Kerala will now take on Vidarbha in the final from February 26 to March 2 in Nagpur.

Former Kerala all-rounder S. Santosh, commenting on Kerala’s chances against Vidarbha, said: “When Kerala reached the quarterfinals for the first time, they lost to Vidarbha. When they reached the semifinals for the first time, again they lost to Vidarbha. So I am hoping that the famous saying ‘third time lucky’ applies to Kerala this time.”