Memoir of Cricket Club – a Startup Story

 Well, let’s do one thing? Instead of playing randomly like this, shall we have an organized cricket club and we will play matches through it?

Thus born our yet another childhood adventure. This is the story of Modern Cricket Club (MCC) an informal startup, more than 28 years ago in a traditional neighborhood in Bengaluru…!!

For an average Indian kids, especially growing in 90’s, cricket was not only a sport but also a passionate dream, and relatable to many activities we were doing. Especially if you had facility of playing in a nearby ground or had space within house compound, it used to be a bonus.

During my primary school days, due to my passion for cricket, I was enrolled to a prestigious cricket club where many national and international players had got groomed and used to coach. Though it was far away from residence, parents had put lot of efforts and money, encouraging to learn to become a cricketer.

That experience, musing material for an another blog, for some other time.

While I was attending the coaching sessions, we also used to spend lot of time playing in neighborhood as well and that inspired the idea of MCC.

Those were the days when kids still played on street and we had big number of friends spending time.

Having the privilege of staying in a house with good space within compound to paly short pitch or in the same lane which had  big ground to play the actual ones, it was always bustling with friends

Since had the benefits of owning the complete cricket set including multiple bats and guards, with experience of attending the coaching, one fine day while doing homework and followed in dinner time got an idea of starting our own club using those materials.

When spoke to family, though they encouraged, asked to write down the conditions of the club and then they will decide of letting me do anything formally.

Same night prepared an application form, with few conditions. 

• Membership fees - Rs. 2
• No refund of the membership fees if anyone cancels their application.
• Time - Sunday 11 am to 4 pm and Saturday 3 pm to 5pm

Next day morning presented this to my uncle, with a smile, he said leave it on table, I will get it done.

Evening, back from office, had a surprise, he had got the application form, printed from a shop and handed over few copies. That was a green signal.

Next few days did a campaign of my new startup, MCC, in school, neighborhood and got 12 members in a month and further growth as well.

In the club we had a register to maintain the forms, timetable and eventually bought some books on cricket rules which was circulated to the members.

While playing on weekends, using the money collected, we used to buy tennis balls and occasionally pay for chocolates and ice-creams, a self-sufficiently running club through the membership money.

There were also occasions, some used to quit and new people wanted to join and since we had shortage of forms, there are cases of overwriting the new names as well!!

Though it was a short-lived club for 2-3 years, after which the paths changed, the longing and joy of doing something decades ago brings back the nostalgic feelings.

With the ongoing Cricket World Cup bringing back these memories, this reminiscence is dedicated to all those who were part of the journey of 90’s…. directly or indirectly.

PS: Fortunately, have kept few forms safe!!