T20 Cricket is currently the most favourite format touted amongst fans all over. Two major reasons for it being so popular all over the world…the first being that players go all out to play exceptional cricket, showcasing their powerful lusty blows while the second being that the shortest format requires less amount of time. Indeed, fans can make a cricketer famous while contracts can make them rich. The paparazzi can make individuals superstars but finally it is pure passion, love and respect for the game, harmony amongst team mates that create top class cricketers.
Back then the Mumbai Cricket Association under the presidentship of late S.K. Wankhede decided to construct the Club House in the year 1972 and it was finally completed in 1974. The Stadium was named as Wankhede Stadium while the club was called as BCAGarware Club House. Further, the Club House started functioning independently since the year 1979. At present the management of the Club house has been managed under the dynamic presidentship of Sharad Pawar. Garware is one of the most prestigious clubs in the city of Mumbai and it conducts various sports tournaments for it members and their families. A huge number of people keenly participate in all these grand events.
The Garware Club House recently hosted itsinaugural edition of the Cricket Carnival where four teams, GCH All Stars, GCH Devils, GCH Warriors and GCH Pirates fought it out for a place in the finals. This grand extravaganza of T20 cricket, an intra club tournament is the brainchild of none other than MohitChaturvedi, the Chairman of the Cricket Committee of Garware. On the other hand he has received great support from the Vice Chairman, Harshad Shah. Both these gentlemen along with their core team have been instrumental in the success of this grand T20 tournament.After attaining over two hundred entries, it was a herculean task to shortlist sixty players in four teams as they conducted selection trials.
The basic rules followed during the tournament with a tad bit of twist to make it a more exciting contest were… that the game would be played with a white ball. Each batsman would retire out after scoring 30 runs but could come back in later. Each bowler could bowl a maximum of 3 overs and pick a maximum of 3 wickets. The first 4 overs would be of power play.
Further, the games were played at the Karnatak Sports Ground as well as Police Gymkhana. Of all the teams, GCH Warriors and GCH All Stars faced each other in the exciting final. Sohil Shah’s all round effort with bat and ball and Tanay Shah’s unbeaten 32 clubbed with one stumping helped ‘GCH Warriors’ defeat rivals ‘GCH All Stars’ by 7 wickets and thus won the first edition of theGarware Club House Cricket Carnival held at Police Gymkhana recently.
Opting to bat first, the All Stars outfit looked to set a mammoth total on the board but things did not go according to their plan as their openers were dismissed early on.Yashpal Shah top scored for the side with 27 of 20 deliveries and in the process he smashed 2 fours and 1 six out of the park, before being stumped by Tanay Shah.Hardik Jariwala remained not out in the end scoring 5. All Stars were bowled out for a paltry 110 in 19.3 overs. Jay Gala was the pick of the bowlers for the warriors as he scalped 3 wickets while Ripal Parikh, Mishit Shah and Darsh Jariwala grabbed 2 wickets apiece.
In reply, the warriors started off on a confident note as Sohil Shah and Tanay Shah looked to take on the opposition bowlers’right from the beginning. Sohil perished after scoring a brilliant 47 coupled with 3 fours and 4 sixes. He took the attack back to the opposition with grit and determination. Tanay on the other hand retired out on 32 and in the process he smashed 6 boundaries. They cruised to victory in 16.1 overs as Samir Shah and Mishit Shah remained not out on scores of 18 and 8 respectively. Medium pacer Hardik Jariwala snapped up 2-27 in his 3 overs spell.
The post- match presentation ceremony was hosted by Binaisha M. Surti along with MohitChaturvedi (Chairman, Cricket and Sports Committee). After a chat with skippers of both teams,Ripal Parikh(GCH Warriors) andNikunj Shah (GCH All Stars), the awards ceremony began. The presentation party consisted of SurendraSavai (Honorary Treasurer),Harshad Shah (Vice Chairman, Cricket and Sports Committee) and Managing Committee Members Jayant Ghelani, D.B.Vedak, Rohit Shah, Rajiv Shah, Dinesh Shah and Atul Shah. Each team were awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. The individual Man of the Match Awards were then handed out. The awardees of the six games were Kavish Jhaveri, Sohil Shah, Prithvi Kothari, Amar Parikh, Rohan Lakhotia and Bakul Mistry. While Tanay Shah clinched the Man of the Match in the finals for his exceptional 32* and one stumping.
Trophies as souvenirs were handed to Police Gymkhana and Karnatak Sporting Association for their support. Best Batsman Award went to Rohan Lakhotia for a tally of 126 runs in the whole tournament. The Best Bowler Award was picked up by Miten Khatau for his overall 6 wickets in all the games. Sameer Shah on the other hand was the winner of the Best Fielder as he took 6 catches and was instrumental in two run outs. The massive trophy for the Man of the Series was won by Sohil Shah for his 233 runs and 2 wickets in the tournament. The Runner up cup went to team GCH All Stars, while the GCH Warriors were given the champions cup.
The central force without doubt in transforming the great cricket culture of Garware Club is its vice president, Mr Pravin Gandhi. “We have always pursued a rich cricketing culture at Garware Club House, striving hard to encourage youngsters by providing them ample support and guidance in bringing about a transformation in not just our club sports profile but also the youth” said Gandhi.
He further proudly mentioned “Mohit and his core team single-handedly and meticulously planned and executed this Cricket Carnival with great zeal and enthusiasm, making us and the entire club immensely proud.”
While giving away the winner’s trophy… SurendraSavai, treasurer of the club added “We in the managing committee have always stressed upon building a strong sports culture within our club members and make sure every sporting dream is nurtured with ample support.”
Finally, Mohit Chaturvedi has been the key driving force in the clubs latest cricketing renaissance and is the clubs youngest ever Cricket and Sports Committee Chairman. He concluded by stating “What started as a small spark is today a behemoth spot is the sports calendar of our club. We were keen to build something extravagant and grand and I am immensely proud at the creation of a superlative brand, the GCH Cricket Carnival.”
