‘I adore Jai’ sums up the legend’s persona

The rediscovery of ML Jaisimha is a compilation of the personal memories and perceptions of sportspersons, family and friends of this legendary cricketer

Hyderabad: What started as a casual discussion ended in the birth of the book, ‘I adore Jai’. When the book landed in the lap of Jayanthi Jaisimha, she in all excitement, announced in the social media: “It came! It came! Got my baby in my hands, straight from the incubator. So thrilling to see and touch and feel my baby, I ADORE JAI.”

Veteran Bollywood actor Sharmila Tagore, wife of late Tiger Pataudi, mentions that Jayanthi’s love for the man knew no bounds. “You literally risked your life if you had the temerity to point out any flaw in her Jaisim,” she says.

Sharmila reveals that Jai was also her idol, like many other numerous female fans. “I was a fan and fanatic. I loved his style statements. Upturned collar, a handkerchief rakishly tied around his neck, and his inimitable swag, made him heart-stoppingly dashing.’’ According to Sharmila, Jai was Tiger’s closest friend. When Delhi stifled her husband, Pataudi had no hesitation to play under Jai. Tiger had immensely admired Jai’s leadership qualities.

Vidyuth Jaisimha says the idea of bringing out a book on his father came about by a mere discussion. “We were discussing for a long time but finally we came up with an idea, instead of one author, why not have a good number of personalities to write their memoirs of my dad. And the name of the book was finalised by my mother,’’ said Vidyuth.

The rediscovery of ML Jaisimha is a compilation of the personal memories and perceptions of sportspersons, family and friends of this legendary cricketer, who stole everyone’s hearts. There are 72 contributors for this book. “We had to restrict the number of writers.’’

As the gentle stylish Gundappa Vishwanath says, “For Jai was every bit the Victorious Lion his name translates to it.” He further says Jai was a complete package, the people’s champion with a unique magnetism and the pull he wore so lightly. Vishy points out that he didn’t come across many cricketing brains better than Jai.

There are many interesting facets of this late flamboyant batsman in this book. His fans, big or small, will remain Jai’s fans forever. Jai was Sunil Gavaskar’s hero. “I simply loved the way he called me ‘Gaa-vaskar’. He never called anything else and I loved it.”

For Abbas Ali Baig, Jai was a virtual sibiling… “Not only because we were born just a few days apart, our cricket careers started and progressed almost concurrently…” He further says: “Jai came to become one of the best purveyors of the on drive. This delectable art was gratefully passed down to Azhar and later to VVS Laxman.”

Kapil Dev regrets that he could not play with Jai while Mohammed Azharuddin feels the history of Indian cricket is incomplete without a mention of this great human being and connoisseur of the game. Laxman says Jai had the rare gift of seeing things well in advance.

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