KPL20/20 - Killiyoor
Premier League: A Cricket Match
It was beginning of summer. Our
annual examinations just got over when the Third Version of IPL 20/20- Indian
Premier League Cricket - matches had an exciting close. We missed watching most
of the preliminary games. After cajoling our parents, we were permitted to
watch the semifinals and finals matches. Finals were an exciting fight between
two great titans – Tendulkar and Dhoni. When Chennai Super Kings led by Dhoni
won the finals, we jumped to the roof. A lot of betting had gone on between our
friends for the finalist slot. Sachin was in great form and in irresistible
mood. I was so sure he would win, but he let me down least realizing the stakes
involved in our town. I ended up losing twenty one rupees entertaining my
comrades with masal vadas.
I stayed in Killiyoor and ours was
a small rural town. Ours was a narrow street where old houses stood
majestically in multi colors for centuries. Many of them hadn’t seen painting
for at least a few decades. Though a small town, people had large hearts. We
were all very friendly with each other, though occasionally we had punched each
other’s nose when it came to burning real issues like ‘Who was a Superstar –
Ajith or Vijay?’ Elders never interfered with youngsters. Our fights were usually
settled with exchange of a few ‘Cadbury’s
kit-kats’.
My name is Venky alias Venkatakrishnan and I was twelve
and Kicha alias Krishnaswamy who was
younger by two years was my bosom friend.
“Why don’t we play a cricket
match?” Kicha asked me one fine morning pulling me up from my bed. He ought to
have lost his sleep over this, the previous night.
I couldn’t wait to brush and
wash. We ran out. We had some fine players in our street team - our talents
matching only with the likes of Raina and Shewak. I already started dreaming
about the match.
“But we are only seven people –
how can we form a team, yaar?” asked
Kicha
********
We immediately called a general
body meeting of all the little ones in our street in Kicha’s house as it was
bigger than others. Our street-houses were narrow, but mile long. The houses
were divided into several smaller rooms, named differently as nadai, rezhi, muttam, thaazhvaaram, kottil,
patta salai and so on. Our
meeting went on acrimoniously even while Kicha’s grandmother ‘Sundari Patti,’ a
kind and affectionate lady, kept sending sundal
to all. The only other interruption came from his grandfather when he was powdering
betel nut in a hand-held stone-grinder with loud thuds and when he intervened
to tell us why he considered the earlier days’ five day test matches as
superior and how Chandu Borde those days used to stand at the crease rock solid
not-out even three full days while his score would be inching towards a century.
“Hey, Vasudev and Harini are
reaching here next week for the vacations. We can include them in our team.”
This was Subbu. They were his cousins.
“You stupid! Harini is a girl yaar …… we can’t take girls in our team”
said Sai.
Immediately a long list of all
those who were expected to visit our village during summer vacation was drawn
and probable team members were considered. We spent next several hours
selecting team. Fighting erupted every now and then over ‘Who would be in whose
team?’ even as we devoured tasty murukku,
kadalai and other snacks sent by Sundari Patti! Some were willing to
prolong the discussions in the hope of getting more items to eat.
We narrowed down on fourteen
names to be included in the team. We were still falling short of people.
“I can bring Sailesh and Gopu,” I
told, bringing some hope to our discussions. They were my seniors in the
school. “But they will come on some conditions” I paused adding suspense.
“They will play only if we get them
onion rava masala dosa from Murugan Idli
shop.” I said. They were cricket giants in our school and also notorious
gourmets.
Sundari patti shouted from the kitchen, “Oh Children! I would provide puliodarai for everyone that day…………
your food problem is solved.”
“I know Sailesh and Gopu stay far
away. My father has a TVS 50. He will bring them to the play ground. Don’t
worry!” assured Ramki.
With suggestions coming from
different corners, we somehow cobbled up twenty members. The next battle began
for the captainship of the teams.
Kicha wanted to be captain for
one of the teams and insisted on his right to choose his team. Others did not
agree and there was a fight. Situation got flared up and suddenly Kicha walked
out of the meeting.
Gone! His participation was important.
We weren’t ready to lose three of his stooges and patronage of Sundari patti. Some of us ran behind him and virtually
prostrated. After much persuasion from me, he finally settled for
vice-captainship on the condition that he would be given the opening for
batting and allowed to choose at least four of his team players.
Many promises were given and many
compromises were made. Vasudev was chosen as captain for one team and Subbu
would be the rival captain. We heard that Vasudev was a big guy now and he had even
started having his shave. Knowing Vasudev as a big-time batsman, Kicha jumped
to be his vice-captain and we couldn’t refuse. Subbu was hardly ten, but was an
able bowler with his slow ball that could deceive even Dhoni.
Somehow, the team composition was
agreed upon, but there was one catch. We had only eleven members in each team,
the twelfth man was missing. We hoped that they would somehow emerge wherever
they were.
*******
Finances were a source of worry.
We needed complete cricket kit, with new bats, stumps, and balls. We were ready
for funds-drive and agreed to go for door to door collections. We set out in
small teams on a Sunday morning. The highest donation – Rupees ten – came from Gopalasamy,
the loyal and sincere vegetable vendor who supplied vegetables to most houses in
our street every morning. Subbu’s team collected seven rupees, I collected five
and Kicha fifteen, thanks to Sundari patti
who was ever generous with her contribution of twelve rupees. His thatha had grumbled, but Sundari patti over-ruled him as usual. On day
one our kitty swelled to thirty seven rupees – very meager, but promising.
“What can we buy with just thirty
seven rupees, everyone is a kanjoos yaar.”
Subbu retired dejectedly.
*******
“Hey, how can we play without any
practice?” questioned Ramki. Our conditioning camp began the very next day. Ramki
pulled everyone out at five in the morning. Not only that, he also spoke to his
father who was a good friend of Ganapathi Sir, our school drill master who
agreed to be our coach and umpire for the match. Though he was due to retire in
the next couple of years, Ganapathi Sir, was enthusiastic and energetic even
with his rounded little belly and grey overgrown moustache and side-burns. He
promptly reached our place at five thirty every morning in his khaki shorts and
blue cut banian. He made us run for
twenty minutes all the way to the nearby water tank. This was followed by
exercises and then the cricket coaching began. We had two used bats which bore
multiple plasters and some old balls and Ganapathi Sir didn’t grudge about
them.
*******
‘We need a name for our tournament?’
said Kicha another day. Everyone immediately assembled in the courtyard of
Rangu Thatha. Discussions went on for a few hours.
“The name should be very
captivating,” said Rangu thata. Many
names were sponsored and finally Subbu’s team was christened Killiyoor Demons
and Vasudev’s team Roaring Lions. Great! I came up with the title “KPL - Killiyoor
Premier League 20/20” for the game and the name spontaneously captured the
excitement of all.
The D day was nearing and some of
us were getting nervous. One thing, money was short and collections did not
improve. The team members expected from outside our town was getting more and
more uncertain. In between, three of our players fell sick due to fatigue practicing
in heat. Subbu cut his toes while trying a return-catch when he bowled to me
during practice and took rest next few days.
Suspense and drama was
heightening day by day.
On Ramki’s suggestion we all did hundred
and eight pradakshinam at the street
Ganapathi temple seeking His blessings for the success of our match. Lord Ganesha
too answered our prayers soon.
*******
One evening Subha gave us the good
news that her uncle was expected from America in a week’s time.
“Hey, Can Subha talk to her uncle
about financing our cricket kit?” asked smart Subbu astutely.
“Oh, Subha is very haughty,
yaar!” snubbed Sai.
The responsibility to talk to her
was thrust on me. Subha was only six and could be very demanding. Somehow I
persuaded her to talk to her uncle and she agreed on the condition that her two
American cousins should be included in the team. Now, we were used to any
compromise as long as it met our objective.
“Oh, that is not an issue at
all!” I promised without knowing the consequences. It was only much later when
her cousins arrived we came to know that one was five and the other three and
half years old. We were shell-shocked. Subha, however, maintained her side of
deal and got us the entire cricket kit – two new bats, six stumps and a dozen
balls and a few hand gloves through her American uncle. Her cousins were
graciously included as twelfth men in the team. We got a bonus too. Her
American uncle volunteered to capture the entire match on his Digital video
camera.
So, it looked everything was set
for the great KPL 20/20 match.
*******
There was a lake nearby our place
and it usually got dried up during summer. It was agreed to be our stadium.
Three days before the match, our drill master also cleared and approved the
pitch. On the day prior to the match, it rained unexpectedly. It not only
dampened our playground, but our spirits too. We cursed weather god. We all
marched once again to Ganapathi temple to make 108 pradakshinam.
Clear messages were sent that all
players must be present in our village at least one day before the match. Yet,
on the previous day when head count was made we were only 20 including those
American toddlers. We required two more players. Seshu mama and Ranghu thatha filled
in the place on the condition that they would take care of our evening snacks –
couple of pooris and aloo masalas – after
the match.
On the day of the match, our
whole street bore festive look. People assembled at the play ground very early.
Sun God was kind and shone brightly. The pitch was somewhat wet delaying our
starting the match. Some old people were seen discussing each team’s prospects.
Many compared notes about their good old days when they had played cricket. Even
mamis were ready finishing their
daily chores early.
Latchumi akka painstakingly brought several pots of water from a
nearby well for our use.
Revathi (6), Visalakshi (5) and
Aswini (7) provided the much needed entertainment by way of their belly dance. They
were present with the most colorful and enticing minis. (Who would watch KPL –
Killiyoor Premier League 20/20 if entertainment was not part of it?) Sankaran Anna and the visiting Thiagaraja mama provided music with their harmonium
and dolak that they used to play
during Bhajan sessions in Margazhi month. All the non-players sang
in chorus some popular numbers and cheered the dancers.
Sundari patti sent a large basin
filled with puliodarai. A few other
houses sent roasted peanuts, candies, kadalai
sundal for refreshment.
Subbu won the toss and decided to
field looking at the wet pitch.
The two American little ones were
allowed to open the batting – we made history by asking the twelfth men to open
the innings - and were cheered by all. They never touched the ball and it took
fifteen balls to get them out. My senior Sailesh scored just one run. Most
catches were dropped. Finally, Roaring Lions of Vasudev managed to score twenty
eight runs in twenty overs including a brilliant twenty runs from Vasudev
before he was declared run out during their first match. Kicha scored just one
run. We had agreed to play three matches to decide the winner.
Ramki opened the batting for Killiyoor
Demons. He played a great innings with twenty runs and at the end of the first
innings they scored twenty nine runs – one run ahead of RL. I got out scoring a
humiliating duck.
During the second match, both the
teams got out for sixteen runs each and so there was a tie. But we were all too
tired as sun started rising above our head. Most of the elders who initially cheered
the players all left the ground and the spectator gallery was looking deserted.
Drinks interval was liberally taken by everyone, but no one could complain. During
the third match, everyone got so tired. Kicha and Subbu had serious private
discussions about continuing the match. It was left to our umpire to decide. After
almost two and half hours of play, it was decided to halt the match citing the
scorching sun.
Finally, based on some
complicated rules, Ganapthi Sir declared Subbu team as the winner. Kicha was
unhappy and picked up a quarrel with me and Subbu. He threatened us with dire
consequences and loss of patronage by his Sundari patti.
Somehow, when everyone was hungry,
issues were forgotten and we all sat down to take a dig at awesome puliodarai.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
‘yaar’ means ‘friend’
‘kanjoos’ means ‘miser’
‘pradakshinam’ means ‘circumbulation’ (going around)
‘mama’ means ‘uncle’, ‘thatha’ means ‘grandfather’, ‘patti’ means ‘grandmother’,
‘mami’ means ‘aunti’,
‘akka’ means ‘elder sister’, and ‘anna’ means ‘elder brother’
‘bhajan’ means ‘devotional singing’
‘Margazhi’ is a Tamil Calendar month between mid December of a year and
mid January of next year
‘masal vada’, ‘sundal’, ‘murukku’, ‘kadalai’, ‘dosa’, ‘idli’ and
‘puliyodarai’ are South Indian snacks and eatables.
