Kapil's Assault at Hemmings

By Saurabh Srivastav
December 23 2005

Location: The bylanes of Patna city in India. The year is 1990. Four students and close friends are returning from school. They stop at the roadside stall of Karim Chacha whose cutting tea (chai) is famous in the area.

Background: India is playing England at Lords. Their team has one of the best emerging players in the world by the name of Sachin Tendulkar, and is led by Azharuddin. It has some good players in Kapil, Manjrekar and Sidhu but lacks in the pace bowling department with only Kapil and Prabhakar.

That weakness is perfectly exploited by Gooch who scores a massive 300 and leads England to a total of 653. India reply strongly through centuries from Ravi Shastri and Azharuddin. Azhar in particular scoring at more than a run a ball leads British scribes like Wood to comment "The misfortune of English cricket is that we can see him only once every 4 years", "There is no point in asking English batsmen to bat this way, they simply can't". Still, it is going to be a tough task with 454 needed only to avoid follow-on.

Scene: Four friends have finished their classes and promptly rush to the canteen to check the score.

"Kya score hua?" (What's the score?)

"400-7" Kapil Dev still at the crease.

Okay, we still have hope. We rush to our hostels hoping the game would still be on when we get there. On the way we stop at our adda (spot) Karim Cha's tea shop. He doesn't know English, but in India you don't have to know English or Hindi. Cricket is the universal language. A radio is blaring from the side of his counter. The four of us huddle to get the score.

"And that's curtains for More.. India in trouble at 430 for 8."

Four heads drop. New batsman in is Sanjeev Sharma, anything but a batsman. He blocks the first ball. We are hoping he would give the strike to Kapil. Alas, he is dismissed the very next ball.

"He is gone. India now 430 for 9, in danger of follow-on still 24 runs short."

One of us starts to leave. This is too much for him, and for good reason. The next bat is Hirwaani, the worst batsman ever. The three of us hold him down.

"Let's give it one more over, man." We did not know how clairvoyant that statement was.

Kapil on strike. Eddie Hemmings the bowler. The first two balls are just played down. No runs.

"Come on Kapil we want a six," one of us shouts (it is said that someone at Lords shouted much the same, at which Kapil let loose a smile as if to say, "Don't worry, I hear you."

Third delivery. "And Kapil has lifted that high in the stands.. looks like it is going for a six! Yes it is a six! Massive shot that one."

The four of us are busy slapping each others back. One of us says "Come on Kapil, once more".

Fourth delivery. "Hemmings on his mark, here he comes flighting the ball slightly outside the off stump. Kapil takes up the chalange comes down and hammers it.. this one is going all the way as well! Fantastic stroke!"

We literally are dancing. Karim Cha has left his kitchen and come out to join us. A passerby on a cycle passed with a hand holding the radio to his head. He looks and smiles at us. Universal language.. cricket.

Fifth Delivery. "Hemmings again. Kapil coming down the wicket again, massively struck and oh dear this is another 6!! This is absolutely the best assault I have seen. What a beautiful game is being played here."

There is a discussion going on the field. Gooch talking to Hemmings. This is the last ball of the over, and India are 6 short of follow on. He doesn't want Kapil to take a run and maintain strike, and he doesnt want to give away a 6 either. We on our side are chatting as well.

"Usko ek run lena chahiye (he should take 1 run). Come on Kapil, don't blow it now!"

"Arre nahin he is in good form, let him slog and finish it!"

I am expecting Hemmings to push a fast one, maybe just let Kapil take a single or two. But to his credit Hemmings is upto the challenge and he flights again. Kapil decides to settle the issue once and for all.

Sixth delivery. "Hemmings bowling the last ball of an over he probably would never forget. Let's see what he has in store this time, here he comes. Flighted again and Kapil coming down with that massive swing of bat, lustily hit dear Oh dear it's gone again. My goodness Kapil has avoided follow on all on his own!"

Four young fans dancing by the side of the road, kicking the friend who almost made sure we all missed it. There is an excitment and optimism in the air. And is there anything better than hope in this world?

We lift our bags and start busting a move.

"Karim Cha kitte huye?" (Karim Cha, how much do I owe you?)

"Rahne do bachche. Aaj to paisa wasool ho gaya." (Don't worry abt it son, today it was all worth it).

This one is for you Karim Cha.

(For those interested, Hirwaani was dismissed off the first ball of the next over, that son of a %^&*. Hemmings would get his own back in the next innings when he dismissed Kapil. India went on to avoid the follow-on, but lost the Test.)