Slice of history awaits Team India in London

LONDON: A corner of London has long been associated with Indian cricket: the sprawling grounds of the Indian Gymkhana in Osterley has been the venue of the first match of visiting Indian teams, helping them acclimatise to the English weather – but no longer.

Senior figures of the Indian community who played a role in sustaining the Gymkhana came together on Sunday to recall its century of existence, but the occasion was also tinged with regret.

Until recently, it was a tradition that every visiting Indian team would play its first match there. Almost every top Indian cricketer of note has played on its grounds over the decades.

The Gymkhana’s clubhouse is lined with photos of cricketers, besides those of others such as the ‘maharajas’ of Bikaner and Patiala, who paid to purchase land in the early 20th century. The Sunday gathering included Labour MP Seema Malhotra, industrialist Swraj Paul, entrepreneurs Rami Ranger and Joginder Sanger, and academicindustrialist Nat Puri.

Paul remarked: “We used to have the Indian team’s first match here, but this has not happened in recent years. We need to put in their head that by hosting and honouring them, we are honouring India.”

Old-timers recalled the last time India played there was 1995. The tradition was discontinued allegedly due to considerations of commerce and security. The Indian team is currently in England, but no match is scheduled in the Gymkhana.