Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

Page 40

Courage Personified runs in the second match and only one run in the third match. His intention in playing these matches was different. He wanted to write a book on cricket in which he specially wanted to describe how one could bat with only one eye. Unfortunately, he could produce no such book during his life time.
Ranjitsinha wanted only to write a book of the kind mentioned above, but
Tiger Pataudi for Pataudi it was a challenge staring at him in actual reality. For him cricket was akin to his very existence. The love of cricket flowed through his veins. He had inherited it from his illustrious father.
There was pessimism everywhere. Almost everyone thought that the majestic batting of Pataudi, junior was now a matter of the past. There was only one person who was optimistic about his situation and that was none other than Pataudi himself. The principle of his life was, "God always helps the brave." Till then no cricketer with one eye had distinguished himself on the cricket ground as a batsman in the entire history of the game. Players like the great Ranjitsinha had also failed in this respect. But this 20 year old lad had not lost his confidence and nursed the hope that one day he would return to the game with a bang.