One of the most memorable Test matches I had the fortune to watch was against the West Indies, held at the beautiful ground near Marina Beach, which continues to host Test matches to this day. The West Indies team of that era was filled with cricketing legends. From memory, I can recall their fearsome fast bowlers, Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith, and the crafty spinner Lance Gibbs, one of the greatest from the Caribbean. Their batting lineup boasted powerful hitters like Conrad Hunte, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Seymour Nurse, and Clive Lloyd—who would later become one of the most successful captains for West Indies. But the crown jewel was undoubtedly Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the greatest all-rounders the game has ever seen, capable of both pace and spin bowling.

Watching Sir Garfield Sobers in action was a privilege and pure joy. His grace at the crease, his hidden power, his cultured strokes, and his fluidity in bowling and fielding were mesmerizing. His back-lift, so effortlessly majestic, was a sight to behold. Even today, watching whatever footage of Sobers is available can transport any cricket lover back to that era.

That match also marked the rise of a new star in Indian cricket—Bishan Singh Bedi. Although I can’t recall if it was his debut Test, it was definitely his debut series. Bedi was an artist with the ball, his deliveries spinning viciously, floating teasingly in the air, and nipping off the wicket with a magical touch. His skill was immediately evident, and even at a young age, he showed signs of becoming one of India’s greatest spinners.

By 1968, my budding cricketing career came to a sudden halt. Later, when I worked at a rural branch, we formed a small team and played a few matches, but that too ended abruptly when we broke an expensive bat that didn’t belong to us. After that, my cricket exploits were limited to indoor cricket with my grandsons—a different but equally delightful experience.

As a spectator, I continued to follow cricket passionately. Some Test matches that stand out in my memory include the one against West Indies where Ravi Shastri captained India, perhaps his only time as captain, and Narendra Hirwani's stunning debut with devastating bowling that secured an Indian victory. There was also the Test against England, where I witnessed the brilliance of Sachin Tendulkar, and another against South Africa, where the charismatic Virender Sehwag scored a casual yet electrifying triple century.

I would be remiss not to mention Farokh Engineer’s brilliant innings against the West Indies in the match I described earlier. Opening the batting as a wicket-keeper, Engineer played a swashbuckling knock, smashing a near-century before lunch—if my memory serves me, he scored around 96. The crack of his bat reverberated around the ground, and his aggressive stroke play still echoes in my memory. In the same match, the reliable all-rounder Chandu Borde also scored a century, but Engineer’s fireworks were unmatched.

Cricket, however, is not just about the players; it is also about the voices that bring the game to life—the commentators and their memorable commentaries. The game has evolved, but the magic of cricket commentary has been a constant, adding layers of excitement and insight to the sport.

To be continued... 71 - My Test with Cricket - Limited Days’ Exploits - Part 5