Tireless ground staff in city ensures practice makes IPL league stage perfect
MUMBAI: The ground staff at the Sharad Pawar Academy swings to action on Sunday, rolling the pitch one last time ahead of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) final training session in Mumbai. RCB had opted to train before heading to Kolkata for the playoffs. Such unscheduled training sessions were common in the hectic last nine weeks for a team of 15 ground staff at the academy in Bandra.
When the Covid-hit Delhi Capitals’ matches were rescheduled from Pune to Mumbai, this was the last-minute venue chosen for training. Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) ground in Thane, two training bases adjoining the DY Patil Stadium and the Reliance Park in Navi Mumbai were also used for practice through the 70 league matches of this IPL. For Pune matches too, teams mostly trained in Mumbai.
The centrally located Pawar Academy in Bandra became the hub of activity for the 10 teams staying in different hotels across the city. At times, four teams trained simultaneously in this ground that houses 15 pitches. Training times ranged from 3-6pm and 6.30-9.30pm.
“After players left the ground, we would water the pitch, outfield and do the rolling for the next day,” a groundsman said. “Our day would end at 11pm and we would be back next day at 9am to prepare the pitches.”
The ground staff had been on a non-stop, day-long work routine from March 14. For many, the experience was rewarding. Confectionery major Cadbury had firmed up a deal with MCA to house match ground staff and some practice groundsmen at a luxury hotel in South Mumbai. A groundsman labelled his twomonth stay in Trident as a “mazzedar (enjoyable) and yaadgar (memorable) experience”. “After our breakfast at the hotel, we would be picked up and dropped at the Wankhede stadium. My wife and children have been happy listening to stories of my five-star stay,” he said.
Just as match pitches were lauded throughout the league phase, so were the training wickets. “Batters look to gain confidence on practice wickets. Our objective was to give wickets with good bounce. Every five days we would offer fresh wickets,” said Nadeem Memon, an experienced Test pitch curator who oversaw preparations in Bandra and Thane for majority of the tournament.
Menon treasures the words of appreciation from the likes of Anil Kumble, Punjab Kings head coach, RCB coach Sanjay Bangar and Gujarat Titans’ Ashish
Nehra for the training facilities. “The 90-minute batting practice that Virat Kohli spoke of before returning to form was on one such true wicket,” he recalled.
Keeping fans away
Keeping fans at bay, however, was a task. The Pawar Academy is housed at MCA’S recreational club which hosts functions in its banquet halls. A security team working with the anti-corruption squad was tasked to ensure guests didn’t come close to the players and the team bio bubble was protected.
“Once the teams entered the training area, we stepped aside. If they needed someone for rolling work, one of us would go wearing a PPE kit with sanitizer in hand,” a ground staff said.
A flipside of the bubble life— apart from players unable to relish on some biryani and fresh tea after training—was that groundsmen could not add to their selfie collection with the stars. “In previous IPLS, we would engage freely with players and take photos,” said Vijay Tambe, 66, a retired groundsman who was called back to work at the Thane ground.