SPG's motto: Win but enjoy

MUMBAI: Shivaji Park Gymkhana is one club that shows how flamboyance and character of players can make cricket so entertaining, not only for the players but also for the spectators.
Players of this club are not only immensely talented, they realise the importance of enjoying one's game. They make sure they spread this joy to as many people as they can.Together they are a reservoir laden with talent, performing consistently.
After hard-hitting batsman Madhu Patil (Sandeep's father), led it well till the 60s, it was the team captained by Vijay Manjrekar which was technically and temperamentally very strong. The team boasted of players like the Gupte brothers, Subhash and Baloo, Manohar Hardikar, Madhav Apte, Dr Chandu Patankar, Vishoo Lele, Ajit Wadekar, Sudhakar Adhikari, Ramakant Desai, Arun Varde and Padmakar Shivalkar.
They were ruthless not only with their opposition but with their players too. 81-year old former India wicket keeper Dr Chandu Patankar, who in 1985 did his PHD and Ajit Wadekar narrate incidents that show that captain Vijay Manjrekar really meant business. "People talk about discipline of Dadar Union, but we too weren't spared by Manjrekar . After returning from the England tour of 1967, I was late for the game. After I changed into my whites, I was dropped by Manjrekar," recounts Wadekar.
Once SPG were chasing 160 runs against Parsi Cyclist and they lost two quick wickets. Recalls Patankar, "When Manjrekar joined me, he said, 'let's get these runs without losing a wicket'.
We batted well, but with only a few runs required to win, I was caught in the deep. After we won the game, Manjrekar almost hit me with the bat. Even though we won by seven wickets, he was very angry that Ithrew my wicket away."
Wadekar too has a similar story to tell. "He didn't curb my stroke-play, but once after I got out in the deep, all he said was, 'why the hell do you guys gift your wickets'. Before I went to England with the Indian team in 1967, he used to watch me in the nets and advise me about the way I should tackle swing bowlers in English conditions. It helped me a lot."
Manjrekar and Subhash Gupte were the heroes of SPG. They were top class performers. Patankar, who also kept wickets for the SPG says, "Subhash had not only greater variety, but he knew how to use conditions. Baloo was a bit flatter, but he had a sharp googly. Vishoo Lele was another fine leg-spinner".
Talk of SPG and one can't forget the names of fast bowler Ramakant Desai and crafty left-arm spinner Padmakar Shivalkar. They were such an effective pair that very rarely could any opposition get away from them. Shivalkar, Patankar says, was very young and would do what Manjrekar ordered. He had tremendous control over line and length.
Patankar can't forget the first over that Desai, as a teenager, bowled for SPG. "We were told about Ramakant Desai's quick bowling for Ruparel College. We made him play the first game against Matunga Gymkhana.
His first three balls were way outside the off stump and the next three were outside the leg stump. But while collecting the balls, I felt its speed in my palms. He was amazingly quick."
Win at any cost was the motto of SPG says Patankar, "Once when SPG was to play against strong Fort Vijay which had Merchant and Mankad, rumours were spread that Fort Vijay players said, 'Let's take full points from these g h a t e e s' (SPG was full of Marathi players). Manjrekar and Gupte, who were returning by a steamer after their league engagements in England, were to reach Mumbai on early Sunday morning.
A few of the SPG fans received them and brought them to the Fort Vijay ground on Azad Maidan. When we finally won the game, our fans began to shout 'A r r e g h a t e e n e full p o i n t k a i s a li ya'. It was a lot of fun '"
Shivaji Park Gymkhana team is surely one of those rare breeds which have both talent and consistency. They prove that though you need to enjoy the game to the fullest, there is no substitute to discipline. It is a healthy combination of enjoyment and discipline that makes cricket the game that it is.