Pras’s recent utterances were not only about the 1973-74 Ranji triumph, but also his appreciation for statemates Kirmani, Srinath and how he managed a support staff-less Indian team in 1985

Former Test spinner Erapalli Prasanna (second from right) in conversation with sports writer Sharda Ugra (extreme right) as historian Ramachandra Guha (extreme left) and Wisden India Almanack editor Suresh Menon look on at the Bangalore International Centre recently. Pic/Clayton Murzello

It is not often that one gets to hear Erapalli Prasanna, 83, speak at length. So, when I got the opportunity to attend an evening chat show in Bangalore two weeks ago, to celebrate 50 years of Karnataka’s 1973-74 Ranji Trophy triumph, I jumped at it.

From my seat at the Bangalore International Centre auditorium, I was regaled by Prasanna’s 1973-74 memories as captain of that championship-winning side, was reminded how fascinating cricket was in the 1970s and welcomed his candidness about T20 cricket which would make some cringe.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The mindset of a spinner [in T20 cricket] is not to take a wicket, but to control the rate of scoring. T20 is not cricket at all, it is a spectator’s game,” Prasanna emphasised.

For someone who has read his autobiography, One More Over, much more than once, Prasanna still had so much to offer within and beyond the time of the book’s release in 1977.

His companions on stage—historian Ramachandra Guha, sports writers Suresh Menon and Sharda Ugra as well as some........

© Midday