Former India captain Rahul Dravid was the star attraction at the golden jubilee celebration of Mount Joy Cricket Club in Bengaluru on Sunday. Joining him was another cricket legend, G.R. Viswanath. The event saw Dravid, the head coach of the Indian team that triumphed in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, felicitating key members of the club, including K.V. Sathyamurthy and Secretary B.K. Ravi. He also interacted warmly with the many state players nurtured by the club, such as B.R. Sharath, Yere Goud, Anand Katti, J. Suchith, C. Raghu, and G.K. Anil Kumar, among others. Dravid took special delight in engaging with promising junior cricketers from the club.
The evening took a nostalgic turn when Ravi reminisced about a match in Mysuru during the 1980s where Mount Joy CC was on the verge of victory until a young schoolboy from the opposing team displayed remarkable gumption and turned the tide. That schoolboy, as Ravi revealed to thunderous applause, was none other than Rahul Dravid.
Dravid, who himself honed his skills playing for Bangalore United CC (BUCC), stressed the paramount importance of a strong club cricket framework. He articulated that young boys and girls participating in club cricket learn invaluable lessons in discipline, teamwork, and fitness. He emphasized that club membership is about much more than just representing a state or country, it’s about acquiring crucial life skills. He underlined that clubs not only build communities but also contribute significantly to the growth of societies, laying a strong foundation for a thriving state and nation.
Dravid shared personal anecdotes, revealing how his formative years were profoundly shaped by the lessons learned playing club cricket. He expressed his admiration for G.R. Viswanath, stating that he had been inspired by him since childhood and that much of his success today stems from the stories he absorbed while playing club cricket.
He further stressed the need to unearth talent from every corner of Bengaluru and Karnataka. For this to happen, he emphasized the necessity of flourishing clubs in every locality. He highlighted the crucial role of ensuring that young boys and girls have access to top-notch infrastructure.
Before departing, the 51-year-old cricketing icon signed autographs and posed for pictures with the numerous young children present at the venue.
Founded in 1974 under the leadership of Test umpire S.K. Raghunathrao, Mount Joy Cricket Club has a rich history. K.V. Sathyamurthy, Y.S. Mahadev, and C. Rajasekhar were some of its pioneering players. P. Sriram became the first Mount Joy CC player to represent Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy, while Prasidh Krishna recently achieved the distinction of being the club’s first cricketer to represent the national team.
