VETERANS VS CINC XI CRICKET -2023

“By Failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin.

          The NFMC fraternity is aware of the ethos of the above quote that has been the diktat of our Foundation. Take for example the preparations of 2023 cricket were already on the cards for 15 Jan 23 (later shifted to 21 Jan on request by WNC), along with Veterans Day Parade on 08 Jan 2023, early last year itself. Planning is ON for Veterans Day Parade-2024 on 07 Jan. 

      The Veterans team formation commenced 3 months in advance with the formation of a Whatsapp group by the Team Captain Cdr Vijay Vadhera and three practices were undertaken in the NOFRA  grounds on 24th , 31^st Dec and 15th Jan 2023 for the final clash on Sat 21 Jan 2023 at the Kohli stadium.

         CinC team also had e few practices of their team at the Kohli stadium prior to the T-15 final match. Admin Orders were issued by CAPO for coordination and conduct of the match, detailing K-22 and Kunjali for organising the event. A rolling trophy had been instituted by NFMC which was taken home by the Veterans in 2020. The individual trophies for Best Batsman, Bowler and Man of the Match were introduced by WNC. The Kohli stadium ground was prepared and well decked up for 21^st Jan. There were two separate enclosures for players and enough chairs in the stands for spectators. It was planned to commence the match at 9’ O clock to finish it in time for Beer and Lunch at IMSC for the teams and all spectators. Both the teams, the young Veterans XI and the younger C-in-C XI were evenly poised to lift the Rolling Trophy. Veterans were eager to reclinch it after losing it last year.

 

Veterans XI: Cdr Vijay Vadhera (Capt), Cdr Tony Chacko (V Cap/WK), Cdr Nevil Malao, Cdr Hari Subramaniam, Cdr Murli Menon, Cdr Adhir Patel , Cdr Hitesh Goel, Cdr Praveen G, Cdr Dinesh Rai, Cdr Puran Rawat, Cdr Dipankar Goswami, Cdr Pradeep Jain, Cdr HM Rao, Cdr SS Das, Cdr LK Sharma.

 

C-in-C XI : VAdm AB Singh, VAdm K Swaminathan (COS, Capt), VAdm R Swaminathan, Cmde S Chopra,  Cmde A Vadhera, Capt Sumit Bhatnagar, Cdr Saibal Majumdar, Cdr Irfan Khan, Cdr Manoj Parashar, Cdr Vinod Kashid, Cdr Niraj Nandal, Cdr Anand Mishra.

 Commentators : Cdr Raj Dutta, Cdr Bhupinder Singh & Cdr Pritam 

          The Veterans team was at the Kohli Stadium sharp at 0815 hrs for a warm-up and the Pre-match photoshoot by Meena (Pics below). Soon the C-in-C team arrived and both teams could be seen exercising and practising with full josh. The spectators started trickling in at the viewers’ gallery. The Umpires walked in sharp at 00845 hrs. Both Team Capts were at the pitch for the toss of the Coin. Cdr Vadhera won the Toss and elected to field.  Both the teams jogged in confidently and lined up for introduction to the Chief Guest, our Commander in Chief, VAdm Ajendra Bahadur Singh, who also opened the batting for his team. The members of both teams shook hands with each other with a warm smile, a challenging glint in their eyes and words of ‘Best Wishes’ on their lips. They then walked back to their Pavillion enclosures.

 

       In ran the Veterans team, led by Cdr Vijay Vadhera to set up an aggressive strategic field placing like a chakra-vyuh to trap the openers early on. CinC and Cdr S Majumdar  walked in confidently and CinC took guard to open, while the later took the non-strikers end. The Batsmen executed a cautious start, even as Cdr G Pravin’s first two deliveries went wide, with a slippery pitch due to moisture. The NFMC team was jubilant when Pravin bowled out CinC on his next  delivery. But the Jubilation was short lived as some hard hitting by later batsmen posted a huge total of 219 runs in 20 overs (with the format having graduated from T-12 to T-15 to T-20 progressively). The major contributors were VAdm K Swaminathan (47), Cdr Irfan Khan (88), Mr Extras (33), Cmde Arvind Vadhera (24), Cdr S Majumdar(13).   

 

       The CinC's fielding team lead by VAdm K Swaminathan (COS) jogged in after the innings interval, swinging their limbs. Soon the field placing had been complete and in walked the Veterans openers Cdr Nevil Malao and Cdr Tony Chako. The first 3 wickets fell early before Cdr G Praveen (22) and Cdr Adhir Patel (32) gave some smile to the score card. Cdr Vijay Vadhera (8) and Cdr Puran Rawat (3) remained unbeaten. After the end of 20 overs the Veterans put up 105/9. 

 

Both teams lined up at the tracks for felicitation of  the Match officials by the Chief Guest, VAdm R Swaminathan, DGNP and Cdr Vijay Vadhera, President NFMC. The Spectators and Guests were then requested to proceed to IMSC for Presentation ceremony and Lunch and a merry ‘meet and greet’ session.

  

       VAdm K Swaminathan gave away the Runners-up mementos to the Veterans team, while Cdr Vadhera was requested to felicitate the CinC XI winners team at the presentation ceremony in IMSC. The Best Batsman trophy went to VAdm K Swaminathan(47 runs), The Best Bowler trophy was bagged by Veteran Cdr Hari Subramanium. The most coveted individual prize of Man of the Match was bagged by Cdr Irfan Khan (88 runs). VAdm R Swaminathan, DGNP then  awarded the Rolling Trophy to the Capt of the winning team, VAdm K Swaminathan, COS and his buoyant team amidst a huge round of applause.

 

RESULTS

CinC XI – 219 /5 (20 Overs)

Veterans XI – 105/9 (20 Overs)

 

CinC XI  beat  Veterans XI 114 runs.

 

AWARDS

BEST BATSMAN – VADM K SWAMINATHAN

BEST BOWLER – CDR HARI SUBRAMANIUM

MAN OF THE MATCH – CDR IRFAN KHAN

ROLLING TROPHY – CinC XI

 

      The Chief Guest in his address congratulated his team for the joint teamwork in lifting the Rolling Trophy of Cricket. Cdr Vadhera in his closing remarks mentioned about the genesis of this Cricket match and instituting of the Rolling Trophy, to enable the tournament to be held every year preceding the Veterans Day. He also briefed about the events in the rundown to the Veterans day, including the Sailing Competition(9 Jan) that was won by Veterans (3-0)  forcing the Veterans to concede a defeat in Cricket, to keep the morale of both at an even keel. 

 

The meet and greet then continued amidst beer, drinks of choice for ladies and delectable lunch to follow, topped up with delicious Faluda Kulfi with brownies . A great exciting day for both the teams and spectators alike.    

Sam No Varunah!

Jai Hind!

(PS- Kindly click the Video below twice  and finger zoom for comfortable  view)

                                                                                                                    VIDEOS

👇👇👇

(Double click the link below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs3T_394BSo&t=96s&ab_channel=MeenaDutta

                               

SNAPS

👇👇👇

INTRODUCTION OF VETERANS TEAM TO CINC

THE COMMENTATORS : CDRS PRITAM, RAJ & BHUPINDER

THE TOSS WON BY VETERANS

THE VIP BOX

FELICITATION OF OFFICIALS