Fate cut short this Ajit's journey

Many of the success stories ofBombay's cricketers begin from their school days. Most of them get noticed inschool and the path to play for India is thus chalked out in front of them. Butthere was one hopeful 15-year-old in Bombay whose school did not take part ininter-school tournaments. The Sacred Heart high school at Worli was a goodschool perhaps, but not for him.To play cricket, he used to go tothe nets at Worli Sports Club where TS Naidu, the passionate coach, guidedenthusiastic youngsters. The boy impressed the coach.This young boy attracted eyeballs of the selectors in the trial for Bombay schools. Within a year, the boy whose school was unknown in Bombay's cricketing circles was leading Bombay schools. In the following year in 1966, he was leading the Indian schoolboys' team to England. This is how Ajit Naik made cricket his life.In the selection trial matches the selection committee consisting of Vijay Merchant, Khandu Rangnekar and Col. Hemu Adhikari appointed Ajit captain of the team ahead of seniors Surinder Amarnath and SMH Kirmani who was selected as a batsman who could bowl off-spinners!JK Mahendra,the baby of the team recalls, "The manager of the team Col Adhikari was verystrict. But Ajit was so good on and off the field that he didn't give colonelany chance to criticize his moves. We were all schoolboys but to us Ajit was aguide. Amarnath and Kirmani were senior to Ajit but that didn't bother him. Hehandled their egos well".Ajit was indeed a talented all-rounder. Heseemed to enjoy pressure. He moved the ball late and was better than most of theplayers in using the old ball when he played for Bombay. In 1972 at Baroda I watched Bombay struggle against the controlled swing bowling of Anthony Fernandes and Narayan Satham. After being bundled out for paltry 129, Abdul Ismail and Ajit Naik were deadly with the new ball. At one stage Baroda were 9 down for 19 and were bowled out for 42! Ajit took 5 for 20 in 12 overs and Ismail took four.From where did Ajit emerge? Milind Regeplayed with him for schools, Bombay and Tatas remembers the selection trials atthe Anjuman-I- Islam High school. "A shy boy was bowling late out-swingers tolittle Sunil Gavaskar. We had never seen him on the school circuit. Supremelytalented and a genuine all-rounder, we knew he would be selected."Webecame friends for life. Ajit was hostile as an all-rounder in a very differentway. His attitude was easy going and he had immense grace and a steelydetermination. His deep brown eyes said more than what words could. Somethinglike: 'You come at me and I'll get back hard at you.'Rege has Ajit'sinnings in Rajkot to save Bombay etched in his memory. "Young Ghavri had runthrough the batting order of Gavaskar, Ramnath Parkar, Engineer, Wadekar,Mankad, Solkar. 6 down 78. Batting on 8, Ajit scored a brilliant 102 that helpedBombay to a respectable score of 287 on coir matting".Ajit did notlook back from there. With his sweet smile, he and Abdul Ismail remained the'funny twins' of the Bombay team. Says Rege," What a riot they created when theylaughed. Truly our Bombay team led by Wadekar was one happy family. No wonder weshared each other's success."When I called Ajit's buddy AbdulIsmail, he broke down. Inconsolable, he was hardly audible amidst his sobs."Ajit was like my younger brother. We played together for Bombay, Shivaji ParkGymkhana and Khar Gymkhana. I miss him a lot. He was a talented all-rounder andhe bowled the old ball better than me."Ajit passed away at a youngage of 49 in the year 1999. The best of leaders, it was ironical that while mostfrom the Indian Schoolboys team that toured UK went on to play for India, Ajitdidn't get enough chances at the first-class level to excel.Thecompetition was tough in Bombay, as it has always been. Ajit had fought hard toplay cricket all his life, right from his school days. He continued to enjoy hiscricket throughout his life, a life cut miserably short by a brutal stroke offate.