- Bhagavat Gita
This week's cynosure was a legend in his own right, even before he started playing cricket. A Padamshree awardee, for whom cricket was just a hobby, yet during his tenure, his team reached two Ranji finals. He couldn't get the India cap, but he left an indelible mark on Bengal cricket. Nevertheless, he was a capped Indian player, but in a different sport.
Subimal Goswami aka Chuni Goswami was born on 15th January 1938 in Kishoreganj, West Bengal. Yes, I know, I should have posted this on his birthday. His first love was football. He was the striker for Mohun Bagan and Indian team. He scored 9 goals in 30 international appearances. He was an Olympian who took part in 1960 Summer Olympics. He also led India to a gold medal in the 1962 Asian games and runner-ups in the 1964 AFC Asian cup.
He played for Mohun Bagan all his life. He joined the club in 1946, aged 8 and played his last game in 1968. A synonym of loyalty.
His cricketing career overlapped with his football career from 1962-68. If we ignore his football record and only consider his cricket record, even then he is a Bengal legend. Bengal used to be a pushover in those days, but during his reign, they reached the Ranji finals twice- 1968-69 and 1972 (when he was the captain), losing to Mumbai on both occassions.
He was a medium pacer who could wield the willow. His best performances were when he scored 96 and 84 in the 1968-69 Ranji final, which was no match to Ajit Wadekar whose century helped Mumbai to victory, on the basis of first innings lead.
In 1966, playing for combined east and central zone, he was rampant when he took eight wickets against the touring West Indies, who were blown away by an innings.
Dilip Doshi who was his admirer and a colleague, said in an interview that Chuni Dada wasn't a gifted cricketer. He wasn't team India material, but whatever success he achieved in the domestic arena was courtesy his discipline and aggression. Milind Rege, former Mumbai captain, who was his worst nemesis, when asked about Chuni Da said that he was an action-oriented player and full of aggression, which made him vicious. Chuni Da was the fittest athlete, Rege ever saw.
Chuni Da passed away on 20th April 2020, aged 82. His cabinet was flooded with prestigious awards, including Padamshree, Arjuna award, Mohun Bagan Ratna to name a few.
P.S.- Rege foxed Chuni Da in each innings of two Ranji finals which Bengal and Mumbai played.
