Venkataraghavan @ 75

In cricket, the number of matches one plays really depends on circumstances, team composition and such factors - S Venkataraghavan

Venkat's Hilarious Declaration, the 'Unsaid' words on LS, 'Dey Kurungu', the Chaffeur who drove TA Sekar into MRF PF and more
Gavaskar named his son after a West Indian great, Sundaram Finance MD named his son after this legendary off spinner

Legendary Cricketer and Umpire Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan turned 75 this week. His name was always difficult to pronounce. When cricketer turned commentator Maharaja of Vijayanagaram once came on air with the offie in action, he said "He is too difficult to call. I will just call him 'Raghavan'." If Gavaskar named his son after the legendary West Indian cricketer, the Managing Director of Sundaram Finance (TT Srinivasaraghavan)  named his son after the legendary off spinner (his son's name is the same as the cricketing Legend's - Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan).

(Gavaskar as a role model- http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/10/sunil-gavaskar-role-model-cricketer-for.html?m=1)

Such was Venkat's commitment that he never missed a single (TNCA) league match for a couple of decades except when he was on national duty. It was largely Venkat’s performance and the high standards he set for himself and the entire team that earned Tamil Nadu the respect at the National level in the 1960s and 70s. The hours of hard work at the BS Nets with his spin twin VV Kumar and his relentless pursuit in search of perfection is now a legendary tale.  During the 1960s and 70s, in a Golden Era for TN cricket, VV Kumar and Venkataraghavan spun many a team out, working in tandem. The two developed a great understanding, worked well in tandem and complemented each other. When Venkat decided to impart spin, VV Kumar focused on straight ones, and when Kumar turned them big, Venkat would keep it straight and tight. Many a time, they 'planted' batsmen out setting them up for a particular kind of dismissal.

However, for all his achievements, both during his playing days and after, Venkat remained aloof and has largely been a misunderstood man. During his playing days, he would often go to a corner of a ground during the lunch breaks and have his home cooked Thayir Saatham under the shade of a tree. In his post retirement phase, he has rarely spoken to writers and preferred to stay quiet away from the limelight. Even during his glory days as an Elite Umpire, he rarely spoke. I have always wondered how and why he has always agreed to talk to me. Blessed I have been that he has spoken to this unknown person (writer) each time I have wanted to!!

Here’s a look back into a few gems from Venkat in his interactions with me over the last decade.

Venkataraghavan was delighted to recount to me the funny episode with the Hat-trick man of TN cricket B Kalyanasundaram  from the 1970s. Venkat saw Kalli as a perfect team man and always relied on him, both for containment as well as for taking wickets, depending on the situation of the match In his words "Kalli as the right man to have at the right time."

“The slight stature belied the pace he bowled at. His forte was accuracy, he could swing the new ball away and he would bowl cutters with the old ball. His contribution to my team during that entire 10 years was immense and he was a wonderful team man to have.”

Venkat's hilarious "Rs. 25" declaration, Leaves Kalli furious 

Venkat always wanted his teammates to up the standards and he believed Kalli could do well with the bat. He remembers one of the declarations in his long captaincy stint for Tamil Nadu that sent the entire team into rapturous laughter with one man alone furious at this decision 

"I still remember the amusing incident of the bet I had with Kalli on his batting capabilities. I challenged him to score 25 runs in a Ranji Match. Kalli was so determined to take up this challenge of mine and  showed great heart to (almost) reach this milestone. However, as luck would have it, I had to declare the innings when he was on 23 or 24. While the entire team had a good laugh about it, Kalli was quite peeved at my decision to declare.”

What impressed Venkat about Kalli was his determination to prove to his captain that he was a worthy bat. A couple of years later at the Agricultural College Ground in Coimbatore, batting alongside TN wicket keeper Bharat Reddy, Kalyanasundaram went on to achieve the milestone of 25 runs against Andhra Pradesh. 

Such was his greatness that to everyone's surprise, Venkataraghavan immediately walked up to Kalli and handed him Rs. 25 in front of the entire team. That was another incident that brought out the great character in the much misunderstood Venkataraghavan. He always lived up to his word. 

Venkat Chaffeurs Sekar to MRF
Right from the late 1970s, soon after the retirement of Kalli, Venkat had  great belief in TA Sekar. In the early 1980s, Sekar was easily the fastest bowler in the country and Venkat treasured having him. But his big contribution in Sekar's life came much after his playing days. It once again showed the ever helping side of Venkat. He believed in and trusted cricketers who worked hard and who strove to achieve the best.

1st April 1988 was meant to be an important day in Sekar’s family. It was the engagement function of his brother in law. However, an unexpected event was to take place later that day that made it a life changing one for him. Sekar was waiting for the guests to arrive that morning. As he looked out of his bed room window, he seemed to sight a familiar face driving down the road. He rushed down to check what that person was doing there in his car. Yes, it was S. Venkataraghavan who had come searching for Sekar to give him the best news of his life at that time, a life changing moment for Sekar. 

Venkat had suggested Sekar’s name as the ideal person for the new pace foundation venture that was taking shape at that time in the 2nd half of the 1980s and MRF’s Chief Ravi Mammen wanted to meet Sekar immediately that morning. And Venkat played the Chaffeur taking him to meet Mammen for a meeting that forever transformed Sekar's life.

Caught in an awkward position between attending the family function and handling Venkat, Sekar requested his former captain for a couple of hours so he could complete the formalities at his family function.

So understanding was Venkat that he came back that noon to pick Sekar up from his home and took him to meet Ravi Mammen. Before the end of the day, Sekar had signed the acceptance letter to become the Coach of the Pace Foundation at the MCC School Campus in Chetput.  And Venkat once again was the man behind this big moment.


Feels let down by LS

Even before he had turned 15, Vidya Mandir school boy L Sivaramakrishnan had jumped from Fourth to First division / Globe Trotters.  When LS played against Venkat's YMA, the legend was very impressed with LS’ flight and turn. Soon the leggie bowled for hours under the watchful eyes of Venkat at the BS Nets (Chepauk). It was Venkat who provided the big early support to LS as a young kid. Given LS’ talent, he fully believed at that time (1980/81) that he would go far if he worked on his skills and stayed DISCIPLINED. 

On the morning of Feb 25, 1982, just minutes before the toss, TN Captain Venkataraghavan walked up to the diminutive 16 year old Vidya Mandir school boy in front of the pavilion at Chepauk and gave him the biggest news yet of his life ‘YOU ARE PLAYING TODAY’ told Venkat to LS.

Soon after reaching the ground, Sunil Valson had informed his captain that he may not be fully fit. Venkat had decided to go with just 4 bowlers for that knock out Quarter Final game and was keen that all the bowlers were 100% fit. He gave Valson 30 minutes to come back with a decision. When Valson indicated that he was not likely to be 100% fit through the four days, Venkat (after a quick discussion with Bharath Reddy) took the big call of playing the leggie in this knock out clash against a formidable Delhi side comprising of international players. And the rest as they say was history. LS picked up a magical 7 wickets bundling out a strong Delhi side in the 2^nd innings. And was soon picked to play for India.

However, by the end of that decade the lack of discipline in LS left Venkataraghavan utterly disappointed. When cricketing downturn struck LS in the 2^nd half of the 1980s, it was Venkat that he approached to get him back on track.

In all the conversations that I have had with Venkat rarely has he expressed bitterness about a cricketer (not even about Gavaskar’s 36 Not Out) but Venkat saw this boy as special and an extraordinary talent and the way he frittered away that talent left Venkate disappointed “ I can say a lot (about LS in the 2^nd half of the 1980s) but it is likely to leave ‘people’ embarrassed. Hence let me not talk about those years.”

The words 'unsaid' told the story of LS from those days.

'Circumstances, Team Compositions in cricket'
NP Madhavan, who finally went on to settle in Udumalpet, a rarity among cricketers, was a supreme talent who blossomed under Venkat in late 1970s and early 80s. It was against Venkataraghavan in 1987 that Madhavan played one of the best innings of his life on a matting wicket at the University Union ground – a knock of 185. 

In a chat with me in front of his house in Adyar, Venkat had the highest words of praise for Madhavan “He was a highly talented cricketer with wonderful stroke making ability. He was also a big asset to the team as a fielder. He was an attractive batsman to watch and should have definitely played many more matches for Tamil Nadu, given his talent and the potential that he held. In the limited opportunities he got, he scored a couple of quality centuries under my captaincy. In cricket, the number of matches one plays really depends on circumstances, team composition and such factors. But Madhavan was a terrific team man and I enjoyed having him in my team, even though he may have played only a few matches, much below what his talent warranted.”

'Dey Kurangu - New Ball choose Pannuda'
In a match at the Forest College Ground in Coimbatore, the first for K Bharath Kumar under Venkat’s captaincy, Venkat’s care for newcomers and youngsters came to the fore. Venkat used to address the young and bubbling Bharath Kumar as ‘Chinna Paiyyan’. Once Tamil Nadu declared after posting up a big score in the first innings, Venkat shouted out in his typical way but only those close to him could see the friendliness and care of Venkat.

 ‘Dey, antha chinna paiyan kitta new balls kuduthu choose panna sollu’. Venkat always used to address Bharath Kumar as ‘Chinna Paiyan’ and took special care of him.

When Bharath couldn’t believe what he had just heard, he asked if really he was to choose the ball which brought even more of Venkat’s love for him ‘Dey Kurangu choose the new ball quickly’. 

Bharath Kumar picked up 5 wickets for 4 runs. It was the match that completely turned around Bharath's confidence levels.

Played inter company match like a Test Match
Raghavan Parthasarathy, who worked at Enfield for 25 years till 1990, was Venkat's classmate at PS High School in the 1950s and was thick friends with him and PS Ramachandran. Venkat had made his Test debut by the early 1960s and had become a star by the end of that decade. When Enfield played an inter company match at the Gandhi Nagar Sports Club ground (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/02/gandhi-nagar-sports-club-cricket-ground.html), Venkat, who had just joined the company, had no two thoughts about playing that match.

Raghavan, the Production Manager, was fortunate to have captained Venkat that day. He recounts Venkat's love for cricket that was on view that day at the GNSC ground in Adyar "His passion for cricket was so high that when our Works Manager ( Sankar Raman) dropped a catch in that match, Venkat shouted out at him in his typical way as if a catch had been dropped in a Test Match. To him, every match was the same and he expected everyone to give their best once they were on the field."

Raghavan considers it an honour to have captained Venkat in that match and even called out to Venkat to come and bowl!! "When I brought myself on, Venkat came up to me every 2nd ball and taught me the nuances of spin bowling, from the grip to the flight. I felt honoured that day. For a Test cricketer to go out of his way to impart his knowledge to me was a great gesture and revealed the great character in him."

Breaks the Big News to Ravi

Venkat has always been known as a very tough and unforgiving personality having set very high standards for himself both as a cricketer and an umpire. 

It was Venkataraghavan as the head of the ICC Umpiring Panel who chose Ravi and elevated him into the Elite Panel, a great endorsement to this ever cheerful umpire from Madras. And hard it may be to believe, it was Venkataraghavan who went up to Umpire S Ravi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/s-ravi-set-for-umpiring-test-debut.html) at Lords  and informed him of his  elevation into the Elite Panel.  Not too many words, just a 'Well done Ravi,  You are there. All the Best".

   

Venkat has always been short on words but the few that he uttered will always remain in the valued possession of those who played with him. For all the negativity around Venkat about him being a toughie, one who did not go out of the way to help cricketers, there are enough episodes to indicate otherwise. No cricketer in the city could ever say that Venkat destroyed his career, for he always encouraged those that worked hard and gave it their best. It is unlikely we will find another 'complete' cricketer like him in Tamil Nadu.