Best shots of the year (’98):
10. Rajesh’s straight drive for a four through mid-off against NCSU. One of our few bright spots in a dismal performance.
9. Ram’s pull for a four against MCC (at Shiloh) a ball after the bowler specifically told the fielder to move in for Ram and back out for Damodar.
8. Yeshpal’s cover drive for a six against Syntel. Was an absolute bullet- splitting the cover and squarish mid-off fielders.
7. Ramesh’s six over mid-on against MCC (at MCC). For such a classy bat these shots are pretty routine. Also the savage pull from Damodar over deep mid-wicket which went into the "chicken room" against HP. One of the biggest sixes seen in the leg side at Shiloh.
6. Vijay’s six off one of the spinners of RCC. A pre-determined shot, Vijay pulled a ball on the leg over deep midwicket ( while falling down) for a huge six.
5. Naveen’s breath taking "bowler’s back drive" for a four. This looked spectacular at MCC. And this was stroked all along the ground. The ball raced to the boundary despite a deep id-on and a deep mid-off.
4. Kalyan’s hook/pull off Syntel’s opening bowler for a four (or was it a six) over deep square leg. With a new ball that was coming quite fast after pitching this was a great stroke from a man who is known for his straight bat. There were two phases to Kalyan : B.S.= before steroids (first 6 games) and A.S. = after steroids (last 5 games). Rumours about steroid use were largely unsubstantiated.
3. Ramesh’s on-driven six over mid-wicket off Imran. Another shot for the highlight reel from the poster boy of TCC.
2. This is a tie: Both shots happened in the same game:
Anand’s pull/flick off a ball that rose more than usual at BCC. This was effortlessly picked up for a huge six over deep square leg. In any other year- would definitely have been the shot of the year.
Vijay’s cover drive off the West Indian bowler who had just removed a part of his anatomy- his toe. His comment after hitting that shot cannot be put on print.
2nd ball of the match. The bowler pitches it slightly up. The ball is picked up in a trice and sent back over the bowler’s head. It is still climbing when it reaches the basket ball court. Finally drops down in the center of the basketball court. The bowler/spectator/runner watch in disbelief. If one shot decided a match real early- that was it. Yes- Damodar’s six (or eight runs) off MCC at Shiloh was the highlight of the year.