Ramchand sparked a revival of Indian cricket

Come to think of it, G S Ramchand, who is now no more, sparked a revival of Indian cricket.

When I arrived in Mumbai from Australia in 1959, the question being asked in sports circles was: whither Indian cricket?

For this was a depressing period, with India having been trounced by the West Indies, under Gerry Alexander, and, then later that summer, whitewashed by Peter May's England.

So we waited with anxiety to see how India would fare against Richie Benaud's all-conquering Australians.

I must say that even when Neil Harvey and Norman O'Neil were scoring runs merrily against us in the Test series, there was a period of despair and dismay amongst the Aussies, and this was mainly due to the bold front and approach of Ramchand, who handled the bowling resourcefully.

And then came the Kanpur victory, thanks to Jasu Patel, which gave India the courage and confidence that no match can be lost which can also be won. This was apparent and acknowledged by Benaud in his handsome gesture at Eden Gardens at the end of the series, when he exchanged his colours with Ramchand.

Also Read First Aussie tour - 1956

On that tour, Ramchand failed as a batsman under the bowler, but never once did he make us feel that he had come to the end of his resources. When I visited Melbourne, one of the first questions I was asked by Ian Johnson [a member of the 1948 'Invincibles' led by Sir Donald Bradman] was: "How is my friend Ram?" And when I returned, [veteran cricket writer] Dicky Ratnagur told me that this was because Ramchand's 109 out of 251, made with massive square cuts and hooks, in the Bombay Test of 1956 had been scored with Pat Crawford bowling the fastest ever spell seen at the Brabourne stadium.

Now, Ramchand is a part of history, gone to join Bradman in cricketers' Valhalla. Ramchand was one who never accepted Bradman's supremacy. He would ask onlookers if they had ever seen or played against Bradman. He said he would never go by past records, legends or traditions. For him, the battle began only when cold steel met cold steel!

Photograph: DEEPAK SALVI