It was years back in a small ground with a bunch of boys; just beyond Road No. 5, Jubilee Hils very close to Mr. K. Vijay Bhaskar Reddy’s residense the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. That is where I met Mr. Sudershan Raju first time. A human being who was prepared to learn, teach and work hard with the boys. My sister’s grand son Pranay Singh was one of the first wards, now an Engineer by profession.

The first thing which struck me was the dedication of Raju and the ideals of hardwork being put into the heads of the children-there was no groundsman, so the boys were supposed to put the mat, nail and erect the nets; which were trollied everyday from one of the houses attched to the ground. This practice was long forgotten in Hyderabad, a sense of beloging and responsibility to the children inculcated indirectly and effortlessly that too in a very affluent sorroundings of Jubilee Hills. And I am so happy it continues to date.

This is how cricket was played till early 70’s, until the sporting of cricket camps. A grounds man to do the needful, to add to it rubber studs insted of the ‘R” nails, crease free shirts and pants, no oiling of the bats due to prepressed and parchment bats, getting the bat seasoned became a forgotten art which was taught to all of us. Sense of patience was slowly disappearing among the cricketers, Raju by sticking to some of the old methodologies which used to make the boys more patient and accept the realities. After all everybody who holds the bat does not neccessarily play for his state or country. Apart from giving back good cricketers for the different age group till date he shurns out good citizen who to this day visit him and give their thanks for making them men of responsibility from boys of mochief and innocence of yester years.

The best thing about Raju’s club Coaching Camp is a boy can bat for hours, bowl for hours and field for hour’s together. Everything is at your disposal the Net, bat, ball. However much you want to play go on which I feel as a coach is the basis for becoming a good cricketer. There are umpteen number of boys from his camp who have played in different grades i.e., 13,14,15,16,17 & 19 and before long few of them will go on to play for the state and country.

It is a pleasure knowing a good human being.

My good wishes and God bless him.