The engrossing 1991 Kanga League

The 1991 Kanga League-winning CCl players and officials

Standing (from left): Dhiru Bhatia, Hemant Kenkre, Prasanna Shah, Keki Kotwal, Shishir Hattangadi (captain), Milind Rege, Sandeep Patil, Mayank Khandwala, Abey Kuruvilla, Salil Ankola and Uday Gharat (scorer). Squatting (from left): Iqbal Khan, Amol Muzumdar, Abhijit Kale, Rohan Gavaskar, Nasir Khan and Sameer Dighe. Pic/Sandeep Patil's personal collection

Covid-19 has yet again prevented the scheduling of the Dr HD Kanga Cricket League, although teams from Mumbai's much-loved tournament will feature across two competitions, subject to government clearance. The Mumbai Cricket Association recently announced that the ‘A' and ‘B' teams from the Kanga League will compete for the Padmakar Talim Shield, while the rest of the sides (‘C' to ‘G') will be part of a tournament to be held to commemorate the birth centenary of former Mumbai captain and MCA president, Madhav Mantri.

With Salil Ankola involved as chief selector and Amol Muzumdar as head coach, I found it interesting to discover that the duo figured in the same Cricket Club of India (CCI) team, which won the Kanga League ‘A' division title 30 years ago on October 6. The day began with CCI and Dadar Union on eight points each, so the title race was between the two giants, with defending champions Sunder CC standing an outside chance with seven points. But Dadar Union drew with New Hind SC and Sunder CC's clash with Shivaji Park Youngsters ended in a stalemate, while CCI overwhelmed National CC at the Brabourne Stadium where the hosts clinched the title.

CCI, led by Shishir Hattangadi, had their full side. Sandeep Patil was back from his club commitments in Nairobi and their pace attack comprised Ankola and Abey Kuruvilla, who had debuted in the thrilling Ranji Trophy final against Haryana earlier in the year. CCI batted first and profited from a 42-run opening stand between Hattangadi and Abhijit Kale. Patil struck lustily with a whirlwind 58 (4x4, 6x6). At 1.45 pm, CCI declared at 182-5, with young Muzumdar staying unbeaten on 28. "I remember saying in the team meeting that we must put up a total for them to have a go and if they lose early wickets, we have the bowling strength to do the finishing job. We had a well-balanced side and while we will all remember that final game, we mustn't forget the contribution of Hemant Kenkre and Mayank Khandwala, our
seasoned players who kept us afloat till our regulars returned from England or East Africa," Hattangadi told me yesterday.

National lost their first two wickets to Kuruvilla (3-54) and Ankola tormented the opponents with four scalps. One of Ankola's deliveries hit middle-order batsman Rajesh Sutar on the head. Sitting as a National CC reserve on the cane seats of the Brabourne Stadium was future Mumbai and India spinner Nilesh Kulkarni. "Rajesh walked in to bat without a helmet and I saw him get hit on the head. He was taken to hospital for attention, came back and batted," Kulkarni told me on Tuesday. Sutar, who went on to make the Mumbai one-day side four years later, scored a fighting 40. CCI were also helped by left-arm spinner Khandwala's 3-5, an effort which helped bowl out National CC for 114.

Despite pundits reckoning that the Kanga League was losing its significance with a plethora of matches being washed out, the 1991 edition was an exciting and memorable one. The tournament ought to have started on July 14, but only began on September 1. Former Pakistan batsman Mohsin Khan, who had married Indian actress Reena Roy, turned up for Khar Gymkhana this year. Rohan Gavaskar, Muzumdar and Kuruvilla played their first season in the premier division.

Mohsin didn't figure in all the matches and his Kanga League debut yielded only four runs as he was stumped by Jaideep Pal off Shivaji Park Gymkhana's left-arm spinner Ashish Bhatt for four. The following Sunday, Mohsin slammed an unbeaten 61 in Khar Gymkhana's six-wicket win over New Hindu. Zubin Bharucha, who is now one of the pillars of the Rajasthan Royals set up, carved a flawless hundred for Dadar Union against New Hindu on the penultimate Sunday of the league. Bharucha went on to play for Mumbai the following year.

As for Hattangadi, who contributed with the bat and his off-spin for the champions, he was rewarded with the Mumbai captaincy for 1991-92, which turned out to be his farewell first-class season. The BCA-Mafatlal Fast Bowling Scheme driven by former pace terror Frank Tyson had gained momentum by 1991 and the seeds of Mumbai's return to domestic dominance were well and truly sown. Quite a few who played way back then are now involved in the running of Mumbai cricket. Hopefully, the current scenario too will lead to better days for Mumbai. Their last Ranji Trophy triumph in 2015-16 seems so far away.

mid-day's group sports editor Clayton Murzello is a purist with an open stance.
He tweets @ClaytonMurzello. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
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