Hi Friends,
My today’s story on Cover Drive is really very near to my heart, this is concerning to my life’s First Cricket Coach- Mr. Ranjit Mehra- A Well Known Left Arm Spinner from Delhi- who has coach me on basic Cricketing skills during my earlier childhood days , I have had a very humble background coming from Middle Class Family of Delhi, where father was the only Earning Member, I use to Study at Govt School at Jheel khuranja, which was one of the most Famous School in Delhi during 80’s due to their Performance is Sports and Academics as well, in East Delhi.
when I was just 14 years old Boy, learning my initial tricks of the game, this School was also famous for the Coach too, who was other then Mr. A. N. Sharma– who happens to be Coach of Indian Cricket Legend Virender Sehwag, we were lucky to being trained by
Mr. A N Sharma, I have huge respect for him, he has been so phenomenon on teaching us basics of the game.. Kudos to Sharma Sir, I wish him long life.
Now coming back to my Story, I remember, First I saw my First Coach Ranjit Mehra A Quality Left Arm Spinner & decent Batter -those days, he was our Paaji , as he was in his late 20’s while he was training us, without taking any monies From us, I remember those days , we were is East Delhi- Gandhi Nagar, Ranjit Paaji also use to live there,( he also coming from Middle Class background) he had started a Club with the name G N Kolts- Gandhi Nagar Colts, that’s the place I met few of my Childhood Buddies- Naved Alam- ( Those days he was quite quick as a Bolwer, with lack of Opportunities those days – he also did not play more then DDCA League ) I am in touch with till date , what a Fine human being he is, today he is a respected Umpire in Delhi- Sanjay puri, Moh Shahid – Radhey Shyam ( what a Classy Batsman – he was those days).
We’re the Students of Ranjit Paaji, We use to reach on the Ram lila Ground early in the morning to Roll the Wicket with Stumps those days, matting wickets were very popular, that too half matting wickets, even the School Zonal matches sometimes were happening on half matting wickets, major. Or bigger tournaments like DDCA Leagues etc to take place on turf Wickets, Delhi Cricket. Was very Different those years.
Jheel khuranja No-1 had one of the best Team of Delhi school, I remember we won the Thumps -up Inter school Tournament too in Kolkata.. which was one of the biggest School tournament those. Years.
Ranjeet paa jee was Very popular. Amonst all our friends, he use to work during the day with some Organisation, (later on he joined Hindustan Times on Sports Quota in Dispatch Department) in the evening around 5 or 5: 30, we all were meeting in Ground, there we had net, Paajee used to coach us with batting Bowling and Fielding, he himself was a very good player, he played DDCA League with many Club Teams, those days no of tournaments were popular in Delhi, on Matting very few were there in Turf Wickets.
I remembered, we all use to pool in 2 Rupees each to buy a Ball, Pajee Figured out a shop , which was selling Balls which had some manufacturing defect those balls , he used to purchase on half of the cost due to less availability of Funds, for practice on the nets.
Those were the Golden Days, I wish if in our times Tournaments like IPL or some other league, would had been there, I am sure many Cricketers were played at least some of those prestigious tournaments, as Competition was also very cut. Throat those days, but those were the Golden Days.
I met my Friend Naved Alam , Kishan Sharma, recently in All India Exporters T-20 league in Greater Noida, this was a You Tube Live Event, where Naved was the Umpire even Kishan Sharma – Balli Bhai was. The Operations head for the. League also met Ranjeet paajee after a long time, he had retired from his job, today he is 65 years of Age, we really cherish our early days of Cricket. But. He is. Still coaching in Arvachin School- Vivek Vihar. As Head Coach, he is stii not retired Cricket has been his First Love, soon ,we will Start a Cricket Academy, this. Will allow us to get. All the Friends together.
Fasco Premier League- Season-II, was a great Cricket Extravaganza where All Leading Exporters of India Participate, this tournament has reached to a Different level, I did the Commentary for the Event along with Rahul , Jagrit Anand(Rranji trophy from Delhi , he is an amazing human being & Sports Enterpreuner ) he and Arnab his Partner were managing the league.
Also met Mr. Prince Malik – who is the main brain behind the Fasco Premier League by getting all gthe Exportters of Handicraft under one platform for Cricket and DK amazing Cricketers and great Human beings.
We were delighted with the Presence of West Indies Legend Courtney Walsh and Senior Indian Cricketer Rudra Pratap Singh were Chief Guest.
Very Soon I will be organising a get together with all my Old Cricketing Buddies of 80’s and 90’s — We will call that Get together Series ‘” Golden Boys Bash”
I always feel Once a Cricketer Sportsman for a lifetime, as Cricket has given lot to me in my life too, I am always thankful for the game, though, I have never made it bigger in the game not played for India, I am sure soon, I will working on starting my own Academy or organising a League in order to relive my Dream for Fulfilling my Dream Playing with Stars, before I die.
Thanks to all my Friends and well-wishers for supporting me every inch of the way,
I wish Ranjeet Paajee a Very Happy and long life, Team Time4Star wishes him great days ahead.