A Titan

What can you say about a person who inspired a whole genration of players from a city, a person who is still considered to be the best the city has ever produced, and almost everyone who has played cricket in the city considers him to be his GURU.

What can you say about a person whom Cricinfo calls "A stylist in the purest sense", "No-one drove off the front foot - or knotted a tie - like him, it was said".....

I am talking about ML Jaisimha, the greatest batsman without doubt that Hyderabad has produced. VVS Laxman has a special place in my heart if for nothing else but for the fact that where he practices is a stones throw from my house and Azhar will always remain the first international cricketer I bowled to but these people were men, Jai was a legend, a larger than life great.

His test stats pale in comparison to the present lots 71 innings for 3 centuries and 12 50's at an average of 30.68. But then one has to remember that those were the days of unlimited bouncers, uncovered pitches and some of the greatest bowlers that the game has ever produced. His legendary innings at Brisbane of 74 and 101 are still talked about in Hyderabad, the fact that he almost walked off the plane to the match adds the icing to the cake and you can always find some old man telling it with relish at one of the innumerable grounds in Hyderabad. Another one of his performances much talked about is his rear guard batting at Calcutta against Australia where he batted through all 5 days of a test match. (Whats this with Hyderabdadi batsmen in Eden against Australia!!)

According to lot of people including Raju Bharatan and Pataudi he could have been one of Indias greatest captains. I have only read the way he would weave batsmen out and set fields with plans and more often than not how they would go right. Of course the fact that Pataudi was willing to play under him in the Ranji trophy shows the greatness of this man. His knowledge of pitches was legendary and he was the most feared captain in his time in the Ranji trophy.

His biography is being released "My Way" co written by a Hindu journalist A Joseph Antony and his wife Jayanthi. Cant wait to read it.

The only thing that I can remember when I think of "Jai" is "According to Greek mythology, the Titans were greater even than the gods. They ruled their universe with absolute power! Well that fcricket field out there , that was Jais universe. He ruled it like a Titan!" (From Remember the Titans a great movie)

To me he will always be a Titan