My Autobiography – B Raghunath’s influence on me becoming a Statistician
It was one Friday evening, which shaped my career as a Statistician. I was walking near Richmond Circle {which was circular in shape then} and was about to enter Lavelle Road on my way to Stadium to collect my badge for the next day’s Ranji Trophy match between Mysore and Madras.
Raghunath Beerala and Prasannasimha Rao were returning home on Raghu’s motor cycle after their net practice. On seeing me, Raghu stopped the motor cycle and called me. When I went to him, he asked me, “how many runs he has scored in Ranji Trophy”. I told him that I am at present only a scorer and not a statistician. He urged me to take up statistics and told me that it would be useful one day.
I took Raghu’s advice seriously and started my statistical career compiling the statistics of Mysore cricketers who were playing Ranji Trophy. Sri Bhagavat Subramanya, father of legendary leg spinner Bhagavat Chandrashekhar was of great help to me in this regard. He had Indian Cricket editions published by the Hindu Group right from Chandra’s test debut in 1963-64. I used to borrow three to four books at a time and return them in exchange for another three editions. He had a long book and used to write the editions lent to me and strike those when returned and enter the editions taken in exchange. This is how I compiled the statistics of Karnataka Cricketers. I owe a lot to Late Sri Bhagavat Subramanya who shaped my statistical career.
During 1975-76, Board of Control for Cricket in India had formed the Statistical Subcommittee and I was nominated by Mysore State Cricket Association as one of its members from South Zone by Sri M. Chinnaswamy. I was one of the members for four consecutive years – from 1976-77 to 1980-81. My services were used to compile the statistics for the Golden Jubilee Publications – Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup – published by the Board on the eve of its Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Anandji Dossa, Doyen of Cricket Statisticians in India was the Chairman of the Statistical Subcommittee.
Hanumanth Singh, the Central Zone captain was fond of my scoring. I was officiating as a scorer for the Duleep Trophy game between South Zone and Central Zone in Bangalore in 1977-78. He called me during the second day of the Lunch and wanted him to show him the score book. He had scored a half century in that game and was impressed at the way it was scored in coloured pens. He was so impressed that he did not give me the score book despite my asking. He had called me for the score book during Lunch and the game was about to start post lunch. He sent to the score book through some one as I had taken my seat in the Press Box. Hanumanth Singh remained a good friend of mine.
There was one more Duleep Trophy match between South Zone and North Zone at Bengaluru. North Zone won this game to meet the West Zone at Bombay in the finals.
M.S. Srihari of All India Radio broke the news that I was selected by AIR Bombay to officiate the finals of Duleep Trophy at Bombay. Thus fell the honour on me to become the “first ever outstation Scorer-Statistician”. Till then, All India Radio never hired a scorer from other stations for its commentary broadcast of a cricket matches at a particular station. M.S. Srihari advised me to be ready with the statistics.
The entire North Zone team comprising of Chetan Chauhan, Bishen Singh Bedi, Mohinder Amarnath, Venkat Sundaram, Rakesh Shukla, Hari Gidwani and Vinay Lamba were travelling by the same train that I took from Bengaluru to Bombay on way to officiate the Finals of Duleep Trophy. It was a day-night journey from Bengalureu to Bombay.
I took the TC’s permission to travel in the first class compartment with the North Zone team and befriended the entire team – courtesy Vinay Lamba, my colleague. It was a travel which I can never forget in my life. It gave me inexplicable joy.
What else a 24 year old boy, who was into cricket, both physically and mentally, required when he was destined to spend some quality time with celebrated cricketers of the country. Most of these cricketers are still good friends of mine.