Cricket History of Mumbai

Mumbai - Mumbai is a city full of dreams. All walks of life visit the city with the hope of making it big. Some find it difficult. They persevere and eventually reach their goals. Some get lost along the way. This is Mumbai's story in a nutshell.

The stories of Azad Maidan, Shivaji Park, and Shivaji Park – the birthplaces of Mumbai cricket - are very similar. Many thousands of players or future India cricket aspirants travel daily to the Maidans via crowded local trains and big kit-laden shoulders. Everyone dreams of being better than the best. The Khadoos approach to their game is what makes them stand out. They are able to thrive under unrestrained expectations. Some even get the lion-crested Mumbai shirt. It is surreal.

This competition and this strong desire to succeed is what has made Mumbai cricket a beautiful topic to decode.

History of Mumbai cricket is closely related to Indian cricket. The Englishmen began playing cricket in India in the middle of the 19th century at Esplanade, which is now known as Azad Maidan in Mumbai. The game fascinated the Parsees, who founded the Oriental Cricket Club in 1848. Slowly but steadily cricket became ingrained in the minds of Indians. Mumbai was the epicenter of this phenomenon.

This is an anecdote that explains why Mumbai has an inexplicable love for cricket.

You can check all Grassroots Upcoming Cricket in Mumbai on CricHeroes.

Mumbai has won more Ranji Trophy titles than all of India in its 82-year history. It has unearthed cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Polly Umrigar, Dilip Vengasarkar, Vijay Merchant, Dilip Sardesai et al. The robust cricketing culture of Maidan cricket has been mentioned numerous times in discussions and post-mortems.

The 1948 HD Kanga League, which was established in Mumbai during the Monsoon season, gave players an idea of the English conditions. There were more than 20 teams that played on one ground. They learn how to set a price for their wicket and not be intimidated by the opposition. Here, the art of Khadoos can be learned. Even bowlers don't throw their wickets while they bat.

The rewards for this Mumbai school of batting have been in the form of trophies, and other rewards. They have a full Trophy cabinet, and any other achievement than the Ranji Trophy title is considered an inexcusable. After qualifying in the knockouts in 2013, and 2014, Mumbai was not able to win the title. They were all subject to the scanner. The 2015-16 Ranji Trophy was won by them, and they once again caught the eye of connoisseurs.

What is it that motivates Mumbai cricketers to perform so intensely, over and over, generation after generation? It's quite simple. Their success is largely due to the strong cricketing culture at the Maidans in Mumbai. Seniors complement this by sharing stories from the past with the younger players. The seniors pass on the culture to their juniors by sharing the rich history of state cricket. This motivates them to emulate the success of their predecessors.

Read also Story of the First International Cricket Match

Chandrakant Pandit, an ex-Indian wicketkeeper, became the head coach of Mumbai during their 2015 success. Wisden India quoted him as saying that, "We don’t underestimate any team, but to get the guys up, I had the need to ask, "Is a Saurashtra team going to challenge Mumbai?" They are naturally motivated by this. It is their past history that you must instill in them. It is important to recall past stories about Mumbai's victories and how Mumbai emerged from difficult situations. These stories can be a source of inspiration for them.

As they say, even traditionalists can fall in love with new innovations. Mumbai cricket is no exception to this. The Mumbai School of Batting has changed its style in recent years to keep up with current trends. While they may have maintained their stellar run on the field, the Khadoos spirit has vanished. Shiny IPL sleeves have replaced the dedication to the club and the pride in wearing the club jersey. Their attraction to IPL has led to their passion for the grinds, while the idea of playing a composed innings at the wicket has been abandoned.

This is what ShreyasIyer's strike rate in the Ranji Trophy last season shows. This statement is supported by his 1321 runs scored at a bizarre strike rate of 92.70.

This is the crux of the matter: Is it better to accept new trends in order to be successful or should the old ones that worked well in the past be kept for future generations?

It is even quite romantic. They have won the Ranji Trophy, just like the Khadoos nature in Mumbai Cricket, where players answer with their bats. Mumbai had a trophyless two-year run after the retirements of the Zaheers and Tendulkars. However, they returned stronger to win last season's Ranji Trophy.

They were able to expand their dominance through a combination of the newfound method and their old resolve. Mumbai's talent pool is always full of people who are eager to take the stage.

Despite all the talk about the declining Khadoos, the one thing that keeps them motivated is the fact they are champions. They have been reminded of their history and capabilities, which has contributed to their indomitable spirit.

The domestic season began with the Pink Ball Duleep Trophy. Ranji Trophy is just a month away. Mumbai cricket would do it again. They might not be able to replicate the hegemony enjoyed in the 60s and 50s. They have the history to back them so they can keep the silverware if a miracle does not happen.

This is the type of belief and assurance that has made Mumbai cricket and its players a special breed.