Cric_Connect

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the ever-amicable former Indian cricketer and captain(and doyen of many other hats), graced the Vidya Mandir Annual Sports Day as the chief guest. He arrived early, watched the performances, and presented awards to the outstanding sports students across various categories and age groups. A Small Background: The University Union Grounds, a venue that has hosted numerous cricket matches and where Vidya Mandir’s Annual Sports Day took place.( This writer speculates that even Srikkanth might have  played here) This writer arrived  in Chennai to take part in practice sessions for the Division matches scheduled later that weekend. The writer stayed at an accommodation just near the University Union Grounds and was studying for his exams that were scheduled the next week. An event involving school students was taking place in the Union Grounds.The writer was least bothered to look out of the window, until he heard one name- "Krishnamachari Srikanth", and th...

Chennai Port Trust Sports Council faced off against the Chatnath Cricket Club in their fourth match of the VS Kannan Shield tournament. Port Trust won the toss and decided to field first, a decision influenced by slight wetness in the pitch, with a plan to exploit the wetness (use pacers in the early overs) and restrict Chatnath to a modest total. Notably, Elavarasan made his debut.  Veteran fast bowler Shikapdeen provided the initial breakthrough in the seventh over: Rahul edged a lively delivery to the wicketkeeper, L Vinoth for the first wicket. Chatnath lost another early wicket when Thiyagarajan fell to 16-year-old Left Arm spinner Abhishek, with Elavarsan taking a notable catch in the deep. IN PICTURE:- Vasanth Saravanan's presence at the middle proved vital for Chatnath A steady and deliberate partnership followed, as former India Under 19 player Vasanth Saravanan and opener Kanishaka stitched together a crucial 126-run stand. Kanishaka played the anchor role, rotating the s...

Port Trust Sports Council faced Perambur United Club  in their inaugural match here at the PBEL City Ground. Port Trust won the toss and decided to bowl first on a wicket that looked perfect for batting, with little or no assistance to the bowlers.  Perambur’s openers got off to a flying start, scoring above 8 runs an over. Sri Neranjan looked in great touch from ball one, making sure that atleast a boundary cam every over. He had a lucky escape when Salman dropped a sitter in the cow corner off Thilak. Off Spinner AK Balachander got the first breakthrough in his first over, dismissing Neranjan( It is note that this wicket was taken after Neranjan had earlier hit two sixes in the same over). Balachander giving the ball less flight(pulled it back) and drew Neranjan into a mis-hit. Perambur lost Barath Kumar lbw to Thivakar, while the young Abhishek trapped Solomon Selvaraj lbw, though Abhishek had to leave the field later with a back issue. Sri Neranjan gave a fiery start for Peramb...

Port Trust Sports Council faced off State Bank here at the Dhanalakshmi College of Engineering for their 2nd game in the TNCA 4th Division. Port Trust, coming into the game with lot of confidence from the victory in their previous outing, looked to continue with the same momentum, while State Bank aimed to bounce back after their recent defeat last week. The start of play was delayed due to dampness on the pitch, and the contest was reduced to 45 overs per side. When play finally began around 10 am, Port Trust won the toss and opted to bowl first, looking to exploit favorable bowling conditions. Initially, both the openers played cautiously. Left armer-Thilak made the first breakthrough with a snappy short ball that resulted in a catch at point, setting the tone for the innings. Koonal, a fellow left-arm spinner, struck next, floating the ball up in the air complimented by a sharp stumping behind the stumps from Thirupathy Raju. In Picture: - Koonal troubled the batters taking 3 quic...

Ravichandran Ashwin graced the 65th Annual Day celebrations of the Madurai District Cricket Association, where he delivered a thought-provoking speech on passion, perseverance, and the future of cricket in the region. It was an evening filled with nostalgia, inspiration, and cricketing passion as the Madurai District Cricket Association (MDCA) celebrated its 65th Annual Day with a grand event at the M.P Mahal here at Madurai. Gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest was Indian Cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin ( Padma Shri) , who captivated the audience with his insights, experiences, and vision for the future of cricket in both Tamil Nadu and Madurai.  Adding to the prestige of the gathering were some of Tamil Nadu’s most prominent cricket administrators, K.S.  Viswanathan – CEO, Chennai Super Kings,  R.I. Palani – Hon. Secretary, TNCA and  Dr. R.N. Baba – Hon. Asst. Secretary, TNCA. ASHWIN'S THOUGHT-PROVOKING ADDRESS Ashwin narrated a story of passion, perseverance, and...

  VB Chandrasekhar: The Mentor Behind Legends and a Legacy Beyond Cricket The Mastermind Behind Icons Have you ever wondered how MS Dhoni was brought into the Chennai Super Kings ranks at the inaugural IPL auction? VB Chandrasekhar was more than a cricketer; he was a visionary who reshaped cricket for Tamil Nadu and India. This article delves into the life, impact, and legacy of VB Chandrasekhar, including the unforgettable moments I shared with him. Early Life in Chennai VB Chandrasekhar was born on 21 st of August 1961 in Chennai. His father, a prominent lawyer, instilled in him values of hard work and resilience. VB attended St. Bede’s School, known for producing a galaxy of talents, from cricket legends to movie stars. Interestingly, Kris Srikanth, a future opening partner, was two years junior to VB at St. Bede’s. VB also shared school with the humorous TV presenter Bhaskar, known as Bosskey, a former cricketing star turned cinema actor cum TV presenter.(St Bedes alon...