Dilip Vengsarkar stresses on importance of varsity cricket

Mumbai: Recalling two former India captains' exploits in inter-university cricket, another ex-skipper Dilip Vengsarkar on Friday stressed the importance of these tournaments in a player's progress up the cricket ladder.

"I saw Ajit Wadekar scoring a triple hundred against Delhi University. Sunil Gavaskar made a lot of runs in inter- university cricket and got selected for the tour of the West Indies (in 1971). This is a very important tournament," said Vengsarkar here.

Vengsarkar was the chief guest at the media conference to announce that Mumbai University are hosting the West Zone and All India Women's Inter-University cricket tournament to be organised by Rizvi College of Bandra next month.

The former chief selector, who is also a vice president of the Mumbai Cricket Association under whose overall guidance the inter-university tournaments are to be conducted, said he got a daily allowance of Rs 10 while playing for Mumbai University.

"We used to travel by unreserved second class train compartments and used to sleep wherever we could get a place to sleep. We used to stay in small places, but it was fun and I had enjoyed those days. Rohinton Baria Trophy (inter-university cricket) was very important," he said.

"I scored a near double hundred, 190 or so, against Delhi," recalled the man nicknamed "Colonel" for the way he resembled one of India's best known cricketers - Col. C K Nayudu - in his batting style.

He also said that nowadays the Cricket Board (BCCI) has given a lot of top class facilities like air travel and very good hotels to stay when playing under-16 and 19 events.

"I am surprised this is the first time Mumbai University is conducting this tournament and I assure 100 per cent support from MCA," said the 116-Test veteran.

The West Zone tournament is to be conducted between December 9 and 17, followed by the All India tournament from December 19 to 21.