The 16 year old talented Southpaw brings with him a refreshing selfless attitude that places the team ahead of the self - a Rarity in TN cricket these days
Just under 35 years ago, a young
14 year Class IX student of RKM School, T. Nagar burst on to the cricket scene
in Madras with an almost unmatched bowling performance for a U15 cricketer at
that time. Modelling his action on Imran Khan, TN Ramachandran picked up six,
seven and eight wicket hauls in three successive TNCA school matches.
Unlike today, exposure was very
limited for un-fancied schools and one had to perform in those bare minimum
opportunities to impress the selectors. It was a period in city cricket in
Madras that was dominated by Santhome and Don Bosco and to a lesser extent
Vidya Mandir.
Without backing from the powers
that be and coming from a school such as RKM, Ramachandran could not find a
place in the U15 squad despite picking up 21 wickets in 3 matches. His non
selection in the age group team left Advocate TS Ramaswamy (YMCA TSR) fuming.
TSR ran one of the earliest
coaching academies in the city from YMCA Nandanam and Ramachandran belonged to
the first set of boys to join the academy in the mid 1980s. TSR was not one of those who would
talk to the selectors to influence the selection of boys from his academy. But
the non selection of Ramachandran left a poor taste in him in the way selectors
looked at school cricketers in the city.
Unfortunately, those that
belonged to Santhome or Don Bosco were better placed as compared to those from
RKM or PSBB and usually talent and scores from the not so cricketing big schools did not find the same treatment from the selectors that decade. TSR could just not understand how a young boy with three successive
extraordinary bowling performances in the recognised TNCA school tournament would be left out of the squad when
there was no equivalent performance that season from any other school
cricketer.
During that entire phase in the
late 80s, Ramachandran remained a quiet, shy cricketer and one of the most
honest human beings I had seen on the cricket field trying to do his best on
the field leaving the rest to the selectors.
As is with cricket and most other
sports, one has to be given an opportunity when in the peak of form to
progress. This unfair rejection in the middle of the 1980s put Ramachandran
back by a few years for such extraordinary bowling performances do not come
every day. He later played first division cricket for Alwarpet but the non
selection in that crucial season as an U15 cricketer left him dejected and
depressed.
Well over three decades later,
history seemed to repeat itself for Ramachandran!!! Despite a terrific
performance in school circuit, Ramachandran’s teenaged son was left out of the annual state summer camp leaving R Vimal Khumar in almost the same state
mind as his father all those decades ago.
Madanagopal plays the Mentor in testing times
In the mid 1980s, there was none to motivate Ramachandran during the frustrating times that he went through. This time the saving grace was that there was a mentor to keep the son motivated. BCCI Umpire and former South Zone Cricketer J Madanagopal (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/madanagopal-j.html), someone who is well respected in the cricketing circles as a mentor, was at the St. Bedes ground coaching boys during the summer. It was he who seeing a dejected young boy kept up the spirits of the young boy through that entire summer focusing on strengthening his mind. And the result of the strong mind is there to see. Since then, the young cricketer has looked up to Madanagopal for inputs during challenging times in his still young cricketing career.
In the mid 1980s, there was none to motivate Ramachandran during the frustrating times that he went through. This time the saving grace was that there was a mentor to keep the son motivated. BCCI Umpire and former South Zone Cricketer J Madanagopal (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/madanagopal-j.html), someone who is well respected in the cricketing circles as a mentor, was at the St. Bedes ground coaching boys during the summer. It was he who seeing a dejected young boy kept up the spirits of the young boy through that entire summer focusing on strengthening his mind. And the result of the strong mind is there to see. Since then, the young cricketer has looked up to Madanagopal for inputs during challenging times in his still young cricketing career.
In 2017, I umpired a lower division
match featuring the then 14 year old Vimal Khumar. Batting at the top of the
order, he scored a brilliant eye catching century. Later in the day, standing
at forward short leg to the spin duo of Kubendran and Vijayasarathy, he picked
up two extraordinary catches. But what struck me the most that day was not the
century or the catches. It was the refreshing attitude of a young teenager who
seemed to place the team ahead of the self.
His voice was heard the most on
the field. He ran from deep square on one side to deep mid wicket on the other
through the innings. He was there every where that day. That league season he topped 400 runs.
PC Prakash ropes 15 year old Vimal into 2nd Div
South Zone middle order batsman in the 1980s and current batting coach at the TNCA academy PC Prakash, who runs/manages a couple of teams in the TNCA league was the one who roped Vimal for his 2nd division team this season when the view, especially from the seniors at SBI (his previous team) was that he should play another year of lower division cricket and continue with the same club. And that has paid rich dividends. He has been among the runs in the competitive 2nd division league. That, along with his performances for his school, led him into the state U16 squad.
South Zone middle order batsman in the 1980s and current batting coach at the TNCA academy PC Prakash, who runs/manages a couple of teams in the TNCA league was the one who roped Vimal for his 2nd division team this season when the view, especially from the seniors at SBI (his previous team) was that he should play another year of lower division cricket and continue with the same club. And that has paid rich dividends. He has been among the runs in the competitive 2nd division league. That, along with his performances for his school, led him into the state U16 squad.
Earlier this season, in an U16
state match when he had the opportunity to prolong his innings after his
century and expand his statistical tally, he hit out in team’s interest and got
out. Most others would have ended up with a Not Out score. He scored 550 runs
in the Vijay Merchant tournament. But it is not the statistics that impresses
one about him. In a city where selfish cricketers and playing for oneself has
become the norm, Vimal Khumar’s selfless attitude is refreshing.
After a long time, Madanagopal is
delighted to find someone like him in city cricket “Vimal is a rarity among the
modern generation of cricketers ‘He is selfless, looking to always play for the
team. Clearly, one finds that he places the team’s interest ahead of himself.
For a long time one has not seen an attitude such as this in local cricket.”
The huge scores he has put together in the U 16 tournament that included two centuries and two 80 plus scores prompted a surprise U19 call up in the Tamil Nadu squad for Vimal last week.
PC Prakash finds Vimal very level headed for his age. More importantly he sees Vimal as a fantastic student of the game, a willing listener and one who is ever keen to absorb good inputs. Though he has just begun his career and has a long way to go, the fact that he loves batting and is hungry for success is good news for TN cricket. Prakash believes that Vimal's passion for the game and his hard work and attitude will take him far though he stresses the importance of leaving him alone without too much interference (and unnecessary attention and glorification) so that he understands the importance of performing consistently and staying grounded.
The huge scores he has put together in the U 16 tournament that included two centuries and two 80 plus scores prompted a surprise U19 call up in the Tamil Nadu squad for Vimal last week.
PC Prakash finds Vimal very level headed for his age. More importantly he sees Vimal as a fantastic student of the game, a willing listener and one who is ever keen to absorb good inputs. Though he has just begun his career and has a long way to go, the fact that he loves batting and is hungry for success is good news for TN cricket. Prakash believes that Vimal's passion for the game and his hard work and attitude will take him far though he stresses the importance of leaving him alone without too much interference (and unnecessary attention and glorification) so that he understands the importance of performing consistently and staying grounded.
Imbibes Father's honest attitude
At the beginning of 1988,
Ramachandran and I played for the same league team. In the very first match
that season, we were chasing a modest 110 to win in 50 overs at the New College
ground. A collapse meant we were 90 for 8 batting in fading light late in the
evening. Almost the entire team wanted him to claim bad light (those days
batsmen had the right to claim for bad light) and it was likely that the
umpires would have decided in his favour. But to everyone’s utter disbelief,
Ramachandran said that he could sight the ball and would not ask for bad light.
We lost the match by about 15runs. But that was Ramachandran for you. He would
not do anything that was against the spirit of the game.
Vimal has imbibed those qualities
from his cricketing father. With his attitude towards cricket that places the
team ahead of the self and with a huge hunger for runs and to play the long
innings, it is likely that this talented southpaw will go a long way not just in cricket but in life as well.
Just like with Abhinav, this blog will track closely the progress of Vimal in the coming years.
13 comments:
Wonderful Prabhu ...Good to see a Ram still making his son a cricketer inspire of what he went through. Best Wishes to Vimal to grow and find a permanent place at the top.
I fondly remember the calm & quiet, but aggressive, highly-talented cricketer Ramachandran. I am happy to read that his son Vimal Khumar is playing spirited cricket. We wish him all the success in all pursuits of his life. T.R.Sarathi, s/o T.S.Ramaswamy, Advocate."
Thanks
T.R.Sarathi
Wonderful and very refreshing article about that lovely youngster Vimal. If Madhan and Prakash can have such positive and adorable views about Vimal then this boy has got something special and he will scale greater heights in future. Wishing Vimal all the very best.
It is so nice people like you spot this good young talent and bring it to the notice of many .May your tribe increase.
Tkq so much for ur wishes
Tkq for ur wishes n blessing
Tkq so much for ur wishes n blessing
Tkq so much for ur wishes n blessing
Fantastic... But all we can do in the whimsical world of cricket is to wish well for this talented boy !! Hope he climbs up the ladder, he should...
What a gr8 story. One catchy thing is a player who puts his team ahead of him is a rarity these days.
Regards,
Sandeep.M
Wow good to see a selfless cricketer at this age. May God give him the best opportunities and the ability to accept all results that come by
Nice one Prabhu..inspiring and probably the quality that every cricketer should inculcate.
Nice to see encouragement for a talented youngster. But I am surprised that nobody in the comment section is mentioning that what happened to Ramachandran is continuing to this day - that is there are aways cricketers whose performance is not rewarded even in junior cricket.
Is there anything that can be done to define a set of criteria for selection and then have a transparent selection process? The criteria could include even gut feeling about a talented cricketer, technique, temperament (rated by an panel of experts), runs scored, average runs, strike rate and so on...
Selection in cricket has always been very subjective which leaves most people unhappy and disillusioned. More transparent selection based on defined objective criteria can be developed if the powers in the administration puts the effort. That will go a long way in youngsters developing a positive attitude. Longer term it is better for Indian cricket.
I think a blog about selections is in order on how to improve it.
-- Will stay anonymous for now.
Vimal all the best you are backed up by good coaches , definitely you will achieve many more Laurels,your sincere hard work will find your way S. Madhavan.
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