Lifetime award for Shivalkar, Goel

MUMBAI: The mobile phone of Padmakar Shivalkar, the champion Mumbai left-arm spinner who was unfortunate not to play for India, did not stop ringing on Monday evening after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nominated him for the Col CK Nayudu lifetime achievement award.

Former Haryana and Delhi left-arm spinner Rajinder Goel, Ranji Trophy’s highest wickettaker with 637 scalps (750 in firstclass), too didn’t get to play for India as his career ran parallel to that of Bishan Singh Bedi. He has also been bestowed with the same honour. Shivalkar got to know about the award through the media. But there wasn’t any excitement. “It is okay. I respect the jury for the honour. But I am neither happy nor bitter about it,” he told HT.

Asked to describe his feelings, Shivalkar said: “There is no feeling. That phase has passed for me now. The award has come, its fine. If it wouldn’t have come then also it wouldn’t have mattered. Jo mila ussi ko muqqadar samaj liya (whatever I got, I consider that destiny),” said Shivalkar, who claimed 589 wickets in 124 first-class games, which included a staggering 42 fivewicket hauls and 13 10-wicket match hauls. Shivalkar was denied an opportunity to play for India due to the famous spin quartet of Bedi, Erapalli Prassana, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and R Venkataraghavan.

Does he finally feel his efforts have been recognised through this award? Shivalkar said: “There is nothing like that. There was a time when I had dreams, I had the drive. But it all faded away with time. I have come to a stage where nothing excites me.”

Shivalkar, who was known to recite songs during his playing days, did forget to sing the line of the famous Bollywood song ‘main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya’.

No feeling. That phase has passed for me now. The award has come, its fine. If it wouldn’t have come then also it wouldn’t have mattered