Dhanraj Pillay writes: ‘I tried to model my game around Kaushik sir’s’

– By Dhanraj Pillay
The 12 months was 1987. I used to be new to Bombay, because it was referred to as again then, and one of many first locations I visited was the hockey stadium subsequent to Churchgate station. I can’t recall the groups that have been taking part in, however I do bear in mind one factor: till that second, I had by no means seen anybody run so quick on a hockey floor. That was the primary time I noticed Maharaj Krishan Kaushik in flesh, he was taking part in for Tata I believe, and he was every thing my brother Ramesh described to me.
Over the a long time, Kaushik sir meant various things to me. Growing up in Khadki, I needed to be an Olympian like him. After shifting to Bombay and watching him play, I attempted to mannequin my sport round Kaushik sir’s, making an attempt to run as quick and cross as exactly as him. When I grew to become a participant, he was one of many individuals who helped me realise my potential. After each of us bought previous, we grew to become associates.
His demise on Saturday night attributable to Covid-19-related issues has left me devastated. Hours earlier on Saturday, we misplaced one other nice participant and Kaushik sir’s teammate from the gold medal-winning 1980 Olympics facet, Ravinder Pal Singh, additionally due to Covid-19. Ravinder sir by no means spoke lots however he took over the function of centre-half from Ajit Pal Singh and excelled in that place.
And whereas the hockey fraternity was nonetheless coming to phrases with Ravinder sir’s dying, the information of Kaushik sir’s passing away left us all shaken.
Where do I even start to speak about Kaushik sir’s greatness as a participant?
The Olympic title in 1980 is, in fact, a reminder of the golden technology – India’s final – to which he belonged. How is that this for an attacking quintet: Kaushik sir as the correct out, Merwyn bhai (Fernandes) as the correct in, Surinder Sodhi was the centre-forward, the good Mohammad Shahid, because the left in and Zafar bhai (Iqbal) because the overlooked.
In this star-studded line-up, Kaushik saab stood out along with his expertise. His tempo on the wings, the best way he carried the ball alongside the touchline and his pinpoint crosses have been the stuff of legends. These days, the variety of crosses in a hockey match is a fraction of what it was once throughout that interval. In that period, crosses have been a really potent weapon to attain targets.
We see it lots in soccer right now: a winger crosses a ball into the field, the centre-forward leaps and heads the ball previous the goalkeeper. Similarly, again then in hockey, if a ball was crossed in from the left or proper, the centre-forward needed to convert it right into a purpose. Maarna he maarna hai (You have to attain a purpose).
READ | Hockey loses two shining lights in in the future, MK Kaushik and Ravindra Pal Singh
Kaushik sir was the king of crosses. Even on uneven grass surfaces, he performed crisp balls that will land proper on the stick of the ahead, ekdum floor ko chipak ke (proper alongside the bottom). It was exceptional, particularly as a result of they performed with white leather-based balls, much like those we see in T20 matches now.
Much later, after I moved to Bombay, Joaquim (Carvalho) sir, MM Somaya sir, Merwyn bhai, Marcellus Gomes, my brother Ramesh… all of them used to inform me to look at and find out how Kaushik carried the ball alongside the road, and performed the cross. I used to be not a really skillful participant again then, so I did precisely what I used to be informed to do. As a proper out, I attempted to repeat his methods though I don’t understand how profitable I used to be in doing that. Years later, I accomplished the total circle.
Before the 1998 Asian Games, Kaushik sir, who was our coach, used to inform me to indicate a few of the gamers the best way I ran with the ball and handed and crossed it. I used to be passing on the very expertise that I had learnt watching him, whereas he was our coach.
One of the most important moments of my profession, the gold medal on the 1998 Asian Games, got here beneath Kaushik sir. Heading into the match, I knew this could be my final Asiad and I used to be additionally assured of our possibilities.
We had an amazing staff: Ashish Ballal, AB Subbaiah and Aloysius Edwards have been the goalkeepers. Dilip Tirkey, Lazarus Barla, Anil Aldrin, Baljit Singh, Mukesh Kumar… sab khiladi log. I used to be the captain, Kaushik sir was the chief coach and Mir Ranjan Negi was the assistant.
Before the Games, Merwyn sir had come to Bangalore to educate us for a number of days and MP Ganesh was the deputy director of Sports Authority of India’s Bangalore centre. Every evening, we met at Ganesh’s home to draft a plan for the following day. Soft-spoken and a disciplinarian, Kaushik sir gave us gamers numerous freedom to function.
Every participant was given a task within the staff, which was his approach of exhibiting his religion in us. He pushed and motivated us in the correct method, which helped every one in every of us play to our true potential and win the gold medal finally.
My bond with him, too, grew stronger over time. Whenever I used to be in Delhi, I made it some extent to fulfill him. We’ll all miss him lots.
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The author is a former Indian hockey staff captain. He appeared for India in 4 Olympic Games, World Cups and Champion Trophies every. He spoke to Mihir Vasavda