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A tale of untapped talent
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He had it in him to play a much higher grade of cricket. But the right breaks eluded him. Meet Sadagopan Mahesh
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ALL-ROUNDER Sadagopan Mahesh and (below) in action
The story of Sadagopan Mahesh is a case of what might have been.
A lively paceman with a natural outswinger, a hard-hitting batsman who could alter scripts and a safe fielder, this strongly built cricketer had it in him to play a much higher grade of cricket.
When he announced his retirement from first class cricket, he had, apart from the Ranji Trophy matches, competed in just a handful of Duleep and Deodhar Trophy games. Surely, Mahesh deserved better.
All about the career
The 33-year-old Mahesh scored 1530 runs in 51 first class games at 32.55 and claimed 132 wickets at 30.16, which clearly marked him out as a full-fledged all-rounder. He was, however, not part of a single India `A' or a Board team.
Mahesh is philosophical about missing out on greater glory.
"Big time cricket is meant for a few chosen people. I was not in the wanted list."
His is a sad tale. Despite promise and potential in a country seeking all-rounders, he hardly had any backers; a committed cricketer without a godfather.
Says younger brother and former Test cricketer Sadagopan Ramesh: "He can send down a beautiful outswinger. And he was such a natural striker of the ball. He believed that he could win the game for his side from any situation. I admired his positive attitude. He was a serious cricketer. Mahesh was cut out for international cricket. It's unfortunate that the right breaks eluded him."
To his credit, Mahesh never allowed his disappointments to cloud his personality.
He remained cheerful and vibrant and was a complete team man.
A popular member of the Tamil Nadu side Mahesh certainly was, ever since he made his Ranji Trophy debut against Goa in 1993.
Somebody with a natural sense of humour, Mahesh, popularly called "Maggie," could lighten the mood in the dressing room during a tense situation with a couple of words.
Aggressive trait
He also possessed an unmistakable streak of aggression. Following an on-field incident with Amit Bhandari during the Tamil Nadu-Delhi Ranji Trophy tie at the IIT-Chemplast ground in 2001, he gave the petrified Delhi paceman a mouthful after the day's play. Mahesh was not going to be intimidated by the big boys from the North. Deep down, he was harmless, but he was impulsive.
Part of the Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy squad for ten years, Mahesh spent a year with the Tripura team towards the end of his career.
He was an influential limited overs cricketer who was worth more than his list `A' record of 617 runs and 55 wickets in 45 games. A couple of blows from him at the crunch or wickets in the death overs have invariably changed the course of a game.
Elder brother, S. Sathish Kumar, whom avid cricket followers in the city rate as the most talented among the Sadagopan siblings, too believes Mahesh deserved a better deal.
Ask Mahesh about his greatest regret and he replies, "Not winning Ranji Trophy with Tamil Nadu." In fact, had Sachin Tendulkar, barely into his 40s, been held in the slip cordon off Mahesh's bowling in that dramatic Ranji semifinal of 2000 in Mumbai, he might have had a different story to tell.
Tendulkar, rallying with the lower order, went on to hammer an unbeaten 233 and Mumbai carried the day. In the city's first division league, Mahesh has turned out for SPIC, Indian Bank and Kohinoor before joining his present team India Pistons. He has fond memories of his time with Kohinoor, where he was part of the team with Ramesh and Sathish.
Mahesh has no immediate plans apart from continuing to excel for Pistons.
Somewhere down the line, he could assist his brother Sathish with his cricket academy. He was a distinct personality all right. Maggie will be remembered.
S. DINAKAR
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