The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Vinoo Mankad's 87th birthday celebrated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Vinoo Mankad's 87th birthday celebrated

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, APRIL 13. `The Legends' Club', formed last year to honour India's first three legends, Vijay Merchant, Capt. Vijay Hazare and Vinoo Mankad, celebrated Mankad's 87th birth anniversary on Monday at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) and over a hundred members were spellbound by the insight offered by the three speakers about India's first genuine all-rounder.

Mankad played 44 Tests, scored 2,109 runs, made five centuries and took 162 wickets at 32.31. Most memorable was his all-round performance in the second Test at Lord's in 1952 when he made 72 and 184 facing Bedser, Freddie Trueman and Roy Jenkins and took five wickets in the match bowling 97 overs.

`The Legends Club', celebration began with a screening of a film produced by the Films Division in 1973. "I was made an opening batsman by Duleepsinhji and I never believed in bad luck,'' was Mankad's remarks in an interview. Like many, Mankad lost out on international cricket because of World War II.

To Hanumant Singh, popularly known as `Chotu', Mankad was the venerated `Master'. To Umrigar and Raj Singh, Mankad was just an affectionate `Vinoobhai'. Umrigar who played with Mankad said: "He saw me and picked me. It was because of his initiative that Vijay Merchant took me to England to play in the Lancashire League. I never regretted it. Vinoobhai started my career. We used to play deck tennis on the ship and Vinoo was good off either hand. Once the captain of the ship asked his team to be challenged and was beaten."

Hanumant Singh and Mankad played for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy. "He was very, very dear to me. If he liked you, he would take you under his wings, one had to be fortunate. I was fascinated by his spin bowling, so much so that if the ball passed me at covers, it was because I was seeing him bowl."

Raj Singh said Mankad had an ocean of knowledge. His bowling action was like melody. I saw him first in Indore when I was young. He looked after cricketers. He was a great traveller, carried a small suitcase, but he was always well dressed. He's easily the greatest all-rounder of his time and one of the best in the world.''

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