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In the name of the game
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Leg spinner Mahendra Kumar's passion for the game remains unbridled
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PHOTO: MOHAMMED YOUSUF
Mahendra Kumar
The entire cricketing world knows about the exploits of the spinning great from `Down Under' Shane Warne. But, not many Hyderabadis are aware that there was a leg-spinner - Mahendra Kumar - in the 60s and 70s whose ability to bowl googlies and the flippers evoked awe amongst some of the finest cricketers from India including late Polly Umrigar, M. L. Jaisimha, Hanumanth Singh and G. R. Vishwanath.
Like many of the genuinely, talented spinners who had to toil in vain in the shadows of the fabulous four - Bedi, Chandra, Prasanna and Venkatraghavan - Mahendra Kumar was no exception. It was plain truth that even in the Duleep Trophy Games he was not given a fair bowling stint as the big names had to be accommodated by the then captain M.L.Jaisimha. But, everyone who played, paid him rich compliments. Polly Umrigar was one of those victims when his intended on-drive was brilliantly taken by Mahendra Kumar of his bowling in his follow-through. "Everytime I met him, he used to recall that dismissal and pay handsome compliments." Not surprisingly, this 70-year-old googly merchant had three eight- wicket hauls against Andhra, Hyderabad (playing for Andhra) and Karnataka in Ranji Trophy amongst his tally of wickets.Old-timers still recall with a sense of pride of having seen this gentleman bowling that stunning googlies, the flippers and more importantly rate him as the best fielder of his own bowling in those days. Like many of the cricketers of that era, he was unlucky to miss an England trip under `Tiger' Pataudi for Starlets team for want of foreign exchange. But is he willing to take up the task of grooming leg-spinners? Why not, he counters.Call it a struggle or a passion. He is forced to combine both for carrying on the journey of life. Well, cricket's glory is enhanced because of these stories of acute struggle from the start to finish without actually reaping the rich rewards which most of the modern day cricketers enjoy.
V. V. S
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