Calcutta: From octogenarians CD Gopinath and Madhav Apte, to legends Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Matthew Hayden, to India head coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli - everyone doffed their hats to the CC&FC (Calcutta Cricket & Football Club) for its fund-raising initiative for cancer patients. The CC&FC, which completed 225 years, hosted a programme Legends for Hope to support the Tata Medical Center, on the club lawns, on Saturday.
The Souravs and Kohlis shared their experiences and best moments in the game, and in life as well, during the programme.
Excerpts:
CD Gopinath: I was very lucky to be one of the players of the team that won the first official Test match for India, in Chennai, against England in 1952. I consider myself luckier because I had taken the final catch that confirmed our victory.
Madhav Apte: I was batting on 99 in the third Test against the West Indies in Port of Spain (in February 1953). It, obviously, was giving me jitters. But Sir Frank Worrell, standing at slips, told me, 'Don't throw it away, young man. You'll get there'.
Sunil Gavaskar: Our 1983 World Cup win got to be the best moment in my career. After the Windies were nine down and the ball travelled towards gully ricocheting off Michael Holding's pads, my first reaction was to save a single. But on seeing the umpire's decision, I picked the ball up and kept it in my pocket, and maybe that was the fastest 75 metres I had run.
Ravi Shastri: Being part of the 1983 World Cup squad and the team that won the World Championship of Cricket in 1985 were my best moments... To speak of Virat, his batting in Tests in Australia, when he scored four centuries, touched heights. It was the best batting I had seen by any Indian in overseas tours.
Simon Doull: My best friend, who was long suffering from cancer, rang me up and said he had beaten cancer. I couldn't express my happiness in words. My parents weren't lucky enough (to beat cancer), but my best friend did.
Sourav Ganguly: The 1983 triumph got me interested in the game, but I keep recalling the 281 by VVS Laxman at the Eden. His 281 and the partnership with Rahul Dravid are probably the best I have seen for a long, long time..
Matthew Hayden: The birth of my first child Grace is one of my best moments. Life is precious to us and I'm lucky enough to have three amazing kids. In cricket, I have had a blessed connection with Chennai.
VVS Laxman: The '83 triumph inspired me to take cricket as a profession. The 2001 Eden Test was also about Sourav's captaincy and how we won that game and the series against such a formidable side.
Russel Arnold: It's for a good cause that we have all assembled here. I congratulate the club for its endeavour and completing 225 years. Kudos to CCFC...
Aakash Chopra: The two Tests - against Australia in Adelaide (2003) and in Multan against Pakistan (2004) - are really special to me. In Adelaide, we were reduced to 70-odd for four after Australia had piled on 550-plus, but we still went on to win that Test, thanks to Dravid and Laxman.
Virat Kohli: I am not a legend. I still got to play for 10 years more... Watching the Sharjah knocks of Sachin was special. Then the Natwest final in 2002 which Yuvraj and Kaif helped India win, and the Test series win in England in 2007 were among the finest moments.
