A Colonel Destined To Lead: Book Review

Beyond a trivia question pertaining to who India's first captain was, few can shed much light on CK Nayudu. Despite the fact that he only played a handful of matches for India, he was at the epicentre of India's rise to Test status and will forever be ingrained in the tapestries of Indian cricket.

The story of someone so pivotal to a sport that has since become a religion in the country is one that is far from commonplace. While he has tournaments named in honor of him and had an incredible first-class career that spanned nearly five decades, few even know his full name let alone the reason behind how he became a colonel or how he became India's first Test captain.

'A colonel destined to lead' is an attempt to answer those questions and so much more. It is a book that does justice to the question of why someone with just nine Test wickets and a batting average of 25 is celebrated as the instigator of the spark that has led to the flame that has enveloped the entire nation.

Where the book shines through and elevates itself from many others about former players is its ability to narrate not just the context but also explain the emotion and provide the human side of a cricketer who is still fondly remembered. Through a variety of anecdotes and first-hand words from those closest to CK Nayudu, including his teammates and his family, the book manages to perfectly encapsulate the life and times of one of India's greatest players both on and off the pitch.

While there can be little doubt about CK Nayudu's place in the pantheon of greats that India has produced, the book evokes a great deal of sentiment courtesy of its expert use of words and the ability to create the perfect backdrop for the story to unfold.

The stories, of which there are many, also manage to highlight key passages from CK's life that helped him leave an indelible mark on Indian cricket. From his 153 against the MCC in 1926 as a 31-year-old that set the foundation for Indian cricket to being given the opportunity to lead India at Lord's as they played their first Test against England courtesy of the Maharaja of Porbandar's decision to relinquish captaincy on the eve of the Test, the book also manages to explain in intricate details, several key moments from his life. Moments that set the ball rolling for Indian cricket to develop into the global powerhouse it is today in the sport of cricket.

Interspersed between the interesting stories that truly reveal the man behind the curtain are a series of images that encapsulate key moments of not just his career but also highlight memorable moments from both his domestic and international career. They offer hitherto unseen insight into the story of India's first Test captain.

The glory days of Holkar under CK's leadership that saw them win four and appear in six Ranji Trophy finals between 1944 and 1954, his relationship with Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar that was the foundation for Holkar's incredible success and the time when Vinoo Mankad (one of the best all-rounders of his era) wasn't picked while Nayudu was in the selection committee are but some of the tales that are woven intricately throughout the book.

Yet arguably the biggest revelation from the book is the reason behind his 47-year long first-class career, the longest of any cricketer and his general approach to the game. Long before Dhoni perfected the art of hitting sixes at will and Kohli earned admirers for his attacking captaincy, CK Nayudu was doing both and placed great importance on fielding and fitness when all around him worries only about the runs and wickets.

Nayudu's attacking style of play, penchant for hitting sixes, emphasis on being incredibly fit and aggressive captaincy are even more pertinent in the context of how the game is heading in the modern era. Before the current crop of Indian cricketers managed to take India to unforeseen heights on the pitch, CK was already setting standards that few knew existed and all of that is spoken about in great detail through the course of the book.

Interesting, intriguing and immensely gratifying, A Colonel Destined To Lead takes you into uncharted waters but continues to navigate through it all with great ease and keeps you thoroughly entertained thanks to an unending desire to shed some light on the life and times of India's first Test captain.