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Yadav was lucky that the tumour didn’t recur, but such was his love for the game that despite medical advice he went with the Madhya Pradesh Ranji team for the Wills Trophy within 30 days of completing his third cycle of chemotherapy. He did pretty well in that tournament, and showed remarkable consistency that was rewarded with a spot in the national squad. He has been one of the top-quality allrounders on the domestic circuit having scored over 7000 runs and taken over 250 wickets.

If this was a case of life-threatening disease, Parida’s is of fulfilling responsibilities of a household from a very early age. Parida’s father was, in his prime, a well-to-do fisherman, but he gradually squandered his wealth in gambling, and he could never come out of the mental and financial turmoil.

Parida’s mother then did some petty jobs to support the family of four daughters and two sons. When Parida was studying in standard seven, he was already selling eatables or working as a mechanic in his colony to support the family.

He started playing cricket in a local club in Cuttack’s fishermen colony as a wicketkeeper-batsman. His big offspinners were accidentally discovered by a local coach. However, it was his cousin Kusha Sahu who supported his cricketing ambitions. He got employed in the Railways as a helper, and had to walk three kms each way to oil the railway tracks and signals. Gradually he got picked for Railways Under-19 and has been an outstanding bowler, having taken well over 300 wickets and played at all levels of Indian domestic cricket.

He has single-handedly funded the marriage of all his four sisters, provided for the technical education of his younger brother, and built a three-bedroom house in the same fishermen colony in Cuttack. Kulamani, as his name suggests, has been a precious mani (jewel) for his kula (family).

The third case is of a boy from a similar poor background who had to deal with consecutive deaths of his dear ones, and yet never lost hope in his life. Saxena’s father passed away when he was four years old. He had four brothers, and his mother resorted to selling vegetables by the road in a hand cart. As he grew older, Saxena started helping his mother in selling vegetables after returning from school. This helped his mother to take a break and look after the cooking.

As the years passed, Saxena started playing tennis-ball cricket and his talent was noticed by a club cricketer who then advised him to start practising at MB Union Cricket Club in Mumbai. He was picked by Orient Shipping Group for whom he played on contract basis for two years. He then switched clubs and started playing for New Hind Cricket Club. In one of the club matches, Sanjay Manjrekar was so impressed by his bowling that he fast-tracked him into the Mumbai Ranji side.

Life seemed rosy, but that was not be. Saxena lost three of his brothers to untimely deaths in quick succession around the year 2000. He took all these blows on the chin, and performed well for Mumbai. After having taken a job with Railways, he has been a regular member of the Railways team. Today he supports the family of his deceased brothers and lives in an 850-sq ft apartment in the suburbs in Mumbai.

Steve Waugh wrote in one of his books that in a cricketer he preferred character over a cover-drive. I am sure every team and every player will find similar examples who can be taken as role models in the real sense.

Our ability to challenge our inherent limitations, and then overcoming those challenges through our actions define who we are. Here’s saluting the spirit of such exemplary personalities who have proved that in cricket and in life, character is all important.

Thanks to Sanjay for bringing out such inspiring stories of our domestic cricketers who play on despite such hardships for just love of the game and committment.

Thanks to cricnfo too, for this regular feature about the domestic circuit.

It is interesting to read actual thoughts and views of someone like Bangar and Mhambrey, as opposed to canned soundbytes and ghostwritten columns.

The contributions of people like Parida, Saxena, JP Yadav have enriched this game that we love as of those titans like Amol Muzumdar and S Sharath who never got the opportunity to show their skills on the international stage.

I remember once having been at the New Delhi Railway Station (receiving a set of delegates for a conference in New Delhi from across the world). Just when I helped the visitors alight a travel-bus, we heard a band playing close by. The band was celebrating the Ranji Trophy win by the Railways team and Bangar was leading his squad out of the station. I went near to Bangar and told him that as a Ranji follower for years, I was proud of the victory by the unsung Railways squad. Bangar was flush with pride and after shaking hands went on forward. The sheer unassuming, down to earth look to this ambience was in stark contrast to the brouhaha and elitist nature of the Indian cricket team's reception after its 20-20 victory. Not putting these things as contrasts though, the scene was worth remembering just for the simplicity. This article by the cricketing Buddha, Bangar only accentuates that memory of mine. Thanks, Sanjay!

Gem of an article... heart warming to read about such cricketing characters. So enamoured by the glitz of international cricket, we tend to forget the domestic cricket heroes. thanks to Sanjay I got to hear about the heroic contributions of these individuals to the game of cricket and also to their families. thanks to such peope that the game is alive and kicking... but for this base of such show of character by domestic cricketers, indian cricket would crumble in its own weight of glamour and fancy...

I had read an earlier article by Sanjay on problems faced by the cricketers on the bench and not on the field. Hats off to Sanjay for bringing out such original thought provoking articles. I also remember Sanjay's role in the series against England and West Indies - he himself was a cricketer with some character...

Love to see these columns by you, good for the intiative cricinfo has taken for such a novel gesture and getting every1 or ratehr atleast thsoe who have the intention to read such stories of our not so famous domestic circuits..

People from those circuits only come to the limelight when they are in the Indian team or in news for the wrong reasons!

Please hush in such wonderful eye openers and insights into places where normally there doesn't go any audience!

Cricinfo please keep those links coming in the scoreboards, as was done now.

When can teh people be able to see doemstic live matches on tv, with good commentary!

That was an excellent article Sanjay. You have done a terrific job to highlight the stories of of your team-mates. That JP Yadav went on to play for India after such a major disease speaks a great deal about his determination and ability. I was not aware of Parida, but I had read about Saxena in a magazine article a few years ago. He was a promising pacer then but too bad he could not play for India. I hope these players get into the IPL, but I'm afraid the BCCI won't forgive Yadav easily after he tried his luck in the ICL.
Anyway, I hope this article inspires young sportspersons and teaches them how to face the challenges of life bravely.

BTW Sanjay, I just saw the highlights of the match against the West Indies in 2002 where you scored a fifty to help India win in the famous run-chase at Ahemedabad...you really deserved more chances after that.

Good and very touchy write up by Sanjay. As far Santosh Saxena is concern, the only player who supported him in Mumbai side was Sanjay Manjrekar. And many didn't know that he at once stage was fastest India bowler. I know 'saxy' which he is called in local maidan for more than a decade and despite been in the prime of his career, he was jobless when he played for three years for Mumbai. And that is why he chose Railways because of job security. Even once the grt Sachin Tendulkar, who was the captain of the Indian team, had said him not to move any state because he will provide him with the job. But the master blaster didn't bothered. And even the MCA officials didn't gave him the proper support.
Now, despite being playing Ranji Trophy, Saxy is also famous for his Tennis ball tournament and he still as fit as current Indian bowler...
Hard Luck, saxena!