Finale !!!

Here is my final post on our MBA saga.

Indian history is replete with many golden eras that I have not been part of.  There is one that I consider is my golden period - 2 years of MBA.  It transformed me from an introvert to a pseudo-extrovert.  A person who would not have a conversation, let alone speak in public, to someone who could speak in a conference.  A major part of the credit goes to my friends.  They say a man is rich if he has friends and I surely do.

In an earlier blog I mentioned of listing the many "firsts" that we achieved.  Here is the list:

• First batch to graduate from the new building
• First ever conference held by OU MBA students
• First ever BIZFEST organized
• First ever Treasure hunt in all of inter-college competitions in Hyderabad
• First ever community service (moving the library) by MBA students
• First time an MBA batch that organized 25 year celebration....well our seniors or juniors cannot blame us for it
• First ever cricket team that reached the semi-finals of inter-college cricket championship
• First ever batch to haul so many prizes in inter-college competitions
• First ever batch to have so many entrepreneurs. UB once remarked that there was something in the entrance exam that identified so many potential entrepreneurs.
• First ever fancy dress competition organized.
• First ever student body elections held in MBA history

Here are a few "lasts" too

• Last MBA batch at Arts College
• Last MBA batch from the ONLY MBA college in Hyderabad.  Badruka and Pragathi started MBA program in 1987.

Probably the first and the last batch to have such a cohesive group of friends.  It is amazing that we managed to identify, contact and rope in 27 folks for the re-union at Bidar.  It speaks of the resourcefulness and the enthusiasm of the group to re-establish the bonding.  May it continue for ever.

Cricket!!!

Here is my penultimate post. 

One of the unwritten rules in any college, atleast in India, is seniors' representation in any sports team is disproportionate unless you have prodigies in the junior class.   The reasoning is simple - this is our last year in college you have one more year to go.  It works in almost all of the cases but we had a situation going the other way.  There were 2 Ranji players (D Suresh and Gavin) and I believe 1 under-19 state player (Srinath).  Some more were accommodated more b'cos of their association with us than their cricketing skills (Chakri, Sudarshan). 

I, was selected the Captain, as I was playing for OU cricket team in the HCA league.  No one ever checked if I had the captaining skills.  The only situation where it came to the fore was in the quarterfinal game.  More on that later.

Here was our team:
1. Jai Kumar
2. Srinath
3. D Suresh
4.Chakri
5. Vinod
6. Mani
7. Sandeep (wicket keeper)
8. Aluri
9. Gavin
10.
11.

This was more constant with others filling in.  The other constants were the cheer leaders: Sharmila, Vindhya, Namratha with occasional appearances by Pannaga, Usha, and junior girls Jayanthi, ...(I dont recollect the name of others).

Gavin was our star fast bowler and many opponent teams requested that he not bowl at his regular pace !!! We were so considerate and confident of winning that Gavin would bowl from a shorter run up.  In one of our matches held behind the MSc Physics building we even offered not to allow Gavin bowl as the pitch was extremely bad.  But the folks did not expect Al to bowl such nasty deliveries and we won the game to get into the quarter finals with AV College.

This was an interesting match as we played in OU A grounds for the first time.  The ground is big and most of us had tough time running around.  Captain of AV college, Srikanth and I played for OU.  The match was riveting and we had to score 2 runs of the last ball, ended up scoring 1 and ending the match in a tie.  Sharmila had her Ganesh locket in her and feverishly praying.  Vindhya almost chewed her nails out.  AV college folks got wild over some umpiring decision and chased the umpire away.  It was decided to toss up to come up with the winner.  Sensing trouble Srikanth suggested we have it in Ranga Reddy (Physical Director's office) and I requested all our folks to meet at the canteen.  We tossed and I called it right.  This is was my only contribution besides knowing Srikanth personally and avoid getting physically mauled by AV college guys.  There was a huge gang of AV students waiting outside and Srikanth told them that they won the game to ensure I go out safely !!!

I break the news in the canteen and we all celebrated with Sandeep paying the bill, as always.


Here I go again.."for the first time in the history of our MBA...blah blah blah".  Well, I cannot but repeat it.  For the first time in the history of our MBA we reached the semi-finals of the inter-college cricket championship.  This was against a more formidable team - Nizams, in their backyard.  We all show up nervously and I go out for the toss with Baliquddin (Azharuddin's brother) and we decide to bowl first.  While we had two Ranji players they had 3 or 4.  With the first ball Gavin had their opener bowled.  The umpire refused to give out as
1.  there were no bails, 2. the stumps just moved and 3. it was their star bastman and their home ground.  We all appealed, yelled, and gave up.  I bowled, twisted my ankle and went out.  We had some 250 runs to score.  Srinath, Jai, and D Suresh ensured we got really close but not good enough to win.  (I think we made around 230).  That ended our campaign and I am not sure if any subsequent batch was able to replicate it.

There were many interesting side notes with Namratha asking what the abdomen guard was for, Vinod itching for a fight with AV college guys though we were very clearly outnumbered, etc..  At the end of it we created history and thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

Gavin left for England to play in the county and I happened to meet D Suresh on a flight as he was moving to West Indies to settled down there. 

watch for the one last blog in this series...