Within 24 hours of the nail-biting final of the IPL 20-20 at Mumbai, another T20 final enthralled thousands of cricket fans elsewhere on Monday.
Sachin, RP Singh gave away prizes to winners
LUCKNOW: Within 24 hours of the nail-biting final of the IPL 20-20 at Mumbai, another T20 final enthralled thousands of cricket fans elsewhere on Monday. Sachin Tendulkar, ace pacer RP Singh, BCCI top gun Rajeev Shukla, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka and Robert Vadra were all there. But this was different.
The tournament was organised in Rahul Gandhi’s constituency Amethi in UP, and the players were no Dhonis or Shane Warnes, but local lads from nearby villages. Despite its humble credentials, the tournament could well go down in cricket history as the biggest ever (see box).
Not many would know of Sangrampur village of Amethi. But its denizens felt on top of the world on Monday when its team lifted the trophy, trouncing neighbouring Tiloi by 64 runs in the finals.
Sangrampur had put up a total of 126 runs and its batsman Nilesh was declared man of the match. The high point of the long-drawn tournament came when Sachin Tendulkar and RP Singh gave away the prizes.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said an overwhelmed Nilesh upon receiving the “man of the match” trophy.
Rahul Gandhi sounded equally emotional as he said: “I have dreamt about organising an event of this sort for a long time. This is something my father would have greatly enjoyed. I want to make it possible for cricketers from these villages to play at the national and international level.”
The event was not without its political lining. The tournament was organised at the Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar stadium at a time when the Lok Sabha elections are within sight. Already, Rahul has been doing a lot to connect with the electorate at the grassroots, especially Dalits, who have rallied behind Mayawati and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
g_deepak@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}