My first cricket coach

The introduction:

During the Summer of 1998 (just before the famous sandstorm in Sharjah during Ind vs Aus match), when I was 13, I wanted to join a cricket academy & professionally equip myself. After I requested my father, He took me to Vivekananda college ground where I saw a fair & handsome man with black coolers Overseeing many boys in his coaching camp. He was none other than Late.Mr.Vakkadai Biksheswaran Chandrasekhar Who is shortly called as VB from whom I was getting coached for around 2 months. I still remember our first meeting. He asked some basic info and Off I was directly enrolled in the academy.

Half the circle inside the ground..

Coaching camp used to start around 3:30 Pm and it went on for Arnd 3 hrs every day. I used to cycle from my home with sunscreen applied over nose and cheeks like (SA fast bowler Allan Donald). Coaching will begin with warms ups, 3 rounds of running around the ground (Day:1- I still remember that I ran half circle inside the ground itself instead of covering the entire ground). VB After noticing this told me to run full circle and repeat again from round-1. There will be stretching exercises followed by 5 mins water break & finally everyone to assemble for nets practise.

Personal attn & stressed importance of basics:

VB in his academy had very good assistants as coaches who used to closely monitor all of us in the nets. During that point of time, I was very much inclined towards fast bowling (used to admire bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar,Srinath,Prasad) & hence decided to take the new ball and was fully engaged in bowling in the nets. At the fag end of the net session, VB asked me to pad up. So I did and faced some throw downs from him. I was little aggressive with the bat right from the start. VB personally paid attention to me and asked to focus on bending and defending the ball and playing towards its line. Though he applauded on my aggressive style, he Sensitised the importance of defence & stroke play.

Practise matches & opportunity for everyone:

VB used to conduct practise matches for our academy boys in Vivekananda ground (turf wicket). We used to look forward for the matches in order to showcase our skill. VB will be the standing umpire for the matches and used to closely monitor the progress of every one’s  performance & later feedback was given. I still remember in one of the practise match (It was conducted in some other ground), I had a good run with the bat but good thing was VB used to give opportunities to each and every boy in his academy. Hence we need to go back to pavilion after a short stay at the crease irrespective of our good or bad run.

The wall visit..

One day we were informed that Mr.Dravid Will be visiting our academy, we were excited as young boys as we will be meeting one of the greatest cricketer of all time. He was invited as a chief guest to inaugurate the turf wicket if I’m right. VB personally gave intro to Dravid. He shook hands with everyone of us. Still those wonderful memories are itched in my brain.

Team bonding session & travel in Black Benz:

VB stressed the importance of Team bonding session those days itself. He decided to took all of us to his residence one fine evening. I had a luxury of travelling in his black colour Mercedes Benz (Not many used to own a Benz during those days). After reaching his house, he gave intro to his family and we boys had a great time out there.

Time to say bye to the best..

At the end of summer camp, it was time to say bye to each other. Made some good friends and we boys had a wonderful time professionally in equipping ourselves by one of the best coaches Mr.VB who had Represented India and made TN proud. He passed on all the experience and guided us Through thick and thin. Following year, if am not wrong, He had opened his dream project ‘VB nest’, A residential cricket academy where boys can stay and get coached any time during the year. He had invited my dad for the inauguration and I still remember going along with both my dad and mom.

The end but memories remain..

After so many yrs, I met VB once in 2015 in a function and later in July 2019 in Tirunelveli during a TNPL match. Couple of weeks before he left us. Though VB is no more, I will still cherish all the memories I had with him during the short stint in his academy. He was my first coach & I Whole heartedly thank him for imparting the knowledge in me. Learning is a never never ending process, We learn every day as a cricketer so as in our lives.

Thanks for reading.

Regards,

Sandeep.M