The last Ranji Trophy match I saw was at Chepauk stadium in Madras (not sure if it was called Xhidambaram stadium, I always remember it as Chepauk and the city was Madras then).
The last day of Ranji Trophy between Madras (team was not Tamil Nadu then) and Delhi.
Delhi had Madan Lal, Kirti Azad and probably Amarnath. Not sure if Bedi had retired. They were a strong team.
Madras batting. Venkat gets out. Young and rude Azad points him to Pavilion ( we didn’t call it dressing room those days).
Re: The joy of domestic cricket
Venkat exchanges words. Then the North Stand, where I was sitting, is on Fire. How dare the Delhi boy criticize our taleiva (Venkat was the taleiva, long before Rajni).
The wooden benches are burning. Then a hush. Takeiva with Comedia and politician Cho Rama swamy are headed towards us. I go down to near the fence - it was metal wire. Venkat soothes the crowd. The fire, literally and figuratively, is under control. The game continues.
Madras lost on 1st inning. But that was the passion behind a Ranji trophy. They played hard. And played to win.
Re: The joy of domestic cricket
A full 35 years later, saw my first Ranji trophy last day since then. The team is now Tamil Nadu. The stadium Chidambaram. The city Chennai.
Drinks intervals are now marked by plastic water bottles. One step back for mankind. The 12th man wears some sort of yellow sleeveless jersey.
But the electric atmosphere was the same. Baroda vs Tamil Nadu. Baroda 4 for 0 in 2nd inning. 3rd and last day. Need 124 ore runs to win.
Re: The joy of domestic cricket
Rangarajan, Shah and another something something an bowl their hearts out. All spinners. A turning track. Made for lefties.
Baroda at one point needed 37 runs with 5 wickets in hand. But they fall 7 short. Some nice stumping, dicing catches at slips and forward short leg. Hooda delivering musty blows.
Wow. The celebration at the end showed what this game is all about.
Spin bowling is an art. And playing it is no walk in the park.