The Cricket Chromosome

Aniruddha Bahal, Inputs From Kamila Hyat April 03, 1996 00:00 IST The Cricket Chromosome -0001-11-30T00:00:00+05:53

SOMEWHERE in some island where the Brits reside, they might have invented this game called cricket. That, as sociologist Ashis Nandy says, is incidental. For, if there's a race that has developed special gills for the game, it's the Indians. Whether it be the entrepreneurial Gujjus who settled in Africa, the second generation Indians in the UK, the descendants of 19th century Indian indentured labourers in the Caribbean, and even the ones who went Down Under, the Indians carried the game in their genes. Whether Idi Amin knocked them out of Uganda or the buds never blossomed in the inclement weather of South African apartheid, the Indians toted the willow around.

The recently concluded World Cup found 12 cricketers of Indian origin in the Kenya, West Indies, UAE, New Zealand and England teams. Chances are that by the time the next World Cup gets rolling in England, you might have a couple of them sneaking into the South Africa and Zimbabwe teams.

Topping the list in terms of numbers was Kenya with six amateur players of Indian origin in their squad of 14, starting...