Big B gets nostalgic about the now infamous Kotla cricket ground

Amitabh Bachchan has rekindled some old memories associated with the now infamous Ferozshah Kotla cricket ground of Delhi. The same ground, where on Sunday the game between India v/s Sri Lanka was abandoned due to unsafe playing conditions.

“Kotla - Ferozshah Kotla grounds, the cricket venue of several international adventures. Those early years in the city and the complete inability to even wander about this venue when a match was on. The College and University days when watching a cricket match by bunking classes was a recognized pastime. The paucity of funds to buy a ticket. The ingenious methods deployed to somehow smuggle our way into the grounds free of cost. The thrill of being inside this hallowed arena where the greats of the International world of cricket enthralled us with their skill.” Big B recalls on his blog.

He adds, “On one particular occasion to witness that great West Indian team simply destroy us with their immense power and talent. Wesley Hall, the pace bowler counting his steps to the run up and the entire stadium counting with him, and in amazement of the distance he would cover to bring in that awesome speed. Gary Sobers and Rohan Kanhai and the likes of them delighting us with their exquisite skill. And then on one occasion during the visit of the Pakistani Team to be seated through some great string pulling, just below the dressing rooms in vantage positioning, to see that incredibly handsome Fazal Mahmood, the Captain and opening bowler of their team, lustrous hair swirling about as he ran up, his green colored eyes focussed determinedly at the batsman facing him. Hanif Mohammad, that batting sensation and his younger brother Mushtaq starting up their international debut at the young age of 17 and 18 years. And our own Ramakant Desai, that thin and fragile looking pace sensation whipping up speed that would never ever be associated with his size, being brought on by Polly Umrigar standing in as Captain to bowl to Hanif, knowing that he would always have a problem with him and then sure enough to see the wicket flying away as he got bowled by a beauty. And Bapu Nadkarni who I think had the distinction of batting for the entire 5 days of a test match unbeaten. He was the “blocker’. The one that never hit the ball, merely kept blocking it to kill time and frustrate the opposition. Such vivid winter memories of that ground, woolies, fog and all”