Bapu has always been best at whatever He has done and its same with cricket. I remember He telling us during one of the meetings that He was an ardent cricket fan in His younger days and zealed to watch matches at Brabourne Stadium, whenever He found time.
Not many would know what a Chinaman ball means in cricket. I think most of us may even not even know its existence. I very clearly recollect Bapu giving the description of what a Chinaman ball is and how it is bowled in one of His discourses'.
Bapu still very much plays cricket whenever he finds time from his extremely hectic schedules. But during the days when he actually played cricket regularly, he was fast bowler who hardly any of the batsmen could face untroubled. But I am sure due to professional reasons and commitment to his cause he might not have taken it up as a profession. Indeed Indian cricket might just have missed its bestest bowler ever.
Bapu not only himself plays but also makes others play and enjoy the game. Which is very clear from this article which I read on Samirdada's blog today: http://aniruddhafriend-samirsinh.com/2013/06/30/bapu-and-sports/. With this my thoughts went back to the Semi-Final of 2011 Cricket World Cup between India and Pakistan. The match was certainly exciting but what had made me more excited than the match itself was that arrangements were made at 5th floor of Happy Home for volunteers to enjoy this match on a big screen. Nandai herself came to meet us at the start of the match and greeted us with snacks and also sent us sweets when India actually won that match. Paurassinh (Bapu's son) and Swapnilsinh (Bapu's son-in-law) themselves watched it with all of us. Samirdada was also present with us for sometime.
I witnessed another example of Bapu's generosity for the game and for making others play. It was during the Kolhapur Medical & Healthcare Camp held every year. I had the privilege of being part of it in the years 2008 and 2010. Here all the medical aid and general day-to-day equipments and clothing is distributed to the needy labourers and farmers for free. Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation with Bapu's inspiration also distributes free cricket kits and also other sports material during this Camp. These cricket kits include bats, balls and stumps for children of these needy folks to play and enjoy. This is how Bapu flowers childhood of so many children and youngsters. Nandai and Suchitdada also themselves visit villages and perform this donation.
There was another cricketing link of Bapu I found. I read a wonderful, unbelievable and miraculous experience that Bapu gave Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The experience was about India's tour of Pakistan in the year 2004 and how smoothly it went. Bapu's Sankalp (resolution) indeed! You can read that article here: http://aniruddhafriend-samirsinh.com/2013/03/30/आचरणातून-संदेश-बापू
Indeed Bapu is BESTEST at whatever He does. Hats off!!!
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