Why Sunil Gavaskar will pray for a Kerala win at Ranji final against Vidarbha

Kasaragod: Legendary cricketer and ICC commentator Sunil Gavaskar said he hoped Kerala would go on to win the Ranji Trophy. Kerala, which debuted in Ranji in 1957, reached the final for the first time after securing a draw against Gujarat on Friday. 

In the final on February 26, Kerala will face Vidarbha, which defeated Mumbai by 80 runs. "I will certainly pray that Kerala will go on to win the Ranji Trophy for the first time," Gavaskar said in Kasaragod. "That will help more and more players from Kerala to come up and don the national colours," he said.

Gavaskar was in Kasaragod as part of an event organised by the municipality to rename the Municipal Stadium Road in his honour. "Kerala has always produced some of India's finest athletes. There's no need to name them all. P T Usha and T C Yohannan (stand out)," Gavaskar said. His son, too, carried forward the legacy, representing India as a fast bowler, he said.

The state has also given the country badminton stars and many other sporting talents. "Now, Kerala's cricket team is adding to this rich legacy. It's something to cherish for all of us who love sports."

Even if Mumbai, his home team, had made it to the final, Gavaskar said, he would have wanted Kerala to win. Mumbai have won the trophy 42 times. "But for Kerala, it is the first time. Whenever it is the first time, it creates a sporting culture that is hard to replicate in subsequent wins," said the legendary cricketer who scored 10,122 runs in 125 Test matches and made a record 34 centuries in the long format.

Gavaskar also thanked the people of Kasaragod for naming the road after him. "I come from Mumbai, but there isn’t anything named after me there. Here in Kasaragod, Kerala, a road is named after me. I can only reciprocate with much much more love than I have given to many others," he said.

Homage to Milind Rege

The huge crowd that gathered to see the legend at the Royal Convention Centre in Chettumkuzhi, near Vidyanagar, observed a one-minute silence to pay respects to first-class cricketer and former Mumbai captain Milind Rege, a "dear friend" of Gavaskar. Milind Rege, the long-time selector of Mumbai, died on Wednesday, February 19. "Milind Rege and I grew up together. We lived in buildings across from each other. He was in no. 2 and I was in no. 4. We played tennis ball cricket on the ground between the buildings," Gavaskar said, recalling his childhood friend.

Rege played Ranji Trophy before Gavaskar did "But he suffered a heart attack at 26 and could not progress to playing for India. But he was like an elder brother to me".

"Thank you so much for paying him respect by observing a one-minute silence, thank you so much."

The function was attended by Kasaragod MLA N A Nellikkunnu, Kasaragod District President Baby Balakrishnan, NRI businessman Abdul Qadir Theruvath, who took the initiative to bring Gavaskar to Kasaragod, and Kasaraogd Municipal councillor Abbas Begum, and municipal councillors.