M.L. Jaisimha: The victorious lion of Indian cricket

Joseph Antony

M.L. Jaisimha brought more luck and joy to Maharajkumar of Vizianagaram, aka Vizzy. As one of cricket`s early commentators, Vizzy would announce that the `victorious lion` had arrived when M.L. Jaisimha came in to bat. After a 1959 debut at Lords, Jaisimha became the first cricketer to bat on all five days of a Test at Calcutta, against Richie Benaud-led Australia. It was a feat that would still inspire awe among the best in the game.

`Jai` packed a panache all his own, be it as Test player, South Zone captain, Indian team manager, national selector, TV commentator or when promoting the Charminar Challenge series, the corporate world`s pioneering effort in cricket sponsorship.
His famed acumen always placed team interests above his own. Post-retirement, that same keen sense saw him alone predict a tie in the 1986 Chennai Test against Australia.

The world of cricket mourned, as the dashing Hyderabadi took his last walk to that great pavilion in the sky, this day, 10 years ago. (July 7, 1999). It was Jaisimha, who penned the foreword to Sunil Gavaskar`s Sunny Days. For the Little Master, it thus seemed natural to do likewise for Jaisimha`s biography, titled `My way—the biography of M.L. Jaisimha` and written by me. The batting legend also flew down to Hyderabad, Jaisimha`s hometown to launch the life-story of his all-time favourite hero.

Thanks to an appeal from VVS Laxman to Cecil Dewars, Vice President, Corporate Communications, the TVS Motor Company sponsored the book`s printing costs. An avid reader, the wristy stylist`s favourite passage describes his mentor`s demise and goes as follows:

`Jai practically sat up with a jerk and fell back. At 2.10 P.M., there came another mighty heave and he sank back into the pillows, never to rise again. A heart attack got him before the cancer could. In the lion`s last roar, a smile played on his lips. The ethereal had eclipsed the earthly.`

It is with a heart that one has to bid adios to the sports best men, on the field and off it as well!

We at Zeecric mourn the death of a gem of a cricketer and an even more greater person in Mr M.L Jaisimha. May his soul rest in peace in the heavenly abodes above us all.