The glittering superstars of Indian cricket play Eire in two internationals this weekend in Belfast. With the debut of the latest megastar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a tv viewers of over a billion is predicted.
It could be nice if the Indian TV director lingered on the pre-match ceremony, which sees the ringing of the Roy Torrens Bell to sign begin of play.
The honour of ringing it’s given to the nice and good of the native recreation, and this week that falls to a person whose ardour bestrides each groups.
Modireddy Venkateshwar Narasimha Rao — identified in all places as Bobby, or Bobjee — was a present Take a look at cricketer for India when he fetched up in Strabane as an expert participant in 1980.
He grew to like the north-west of Eire and made his house there, as a coach shaping the lives and careers of dozens of native kids together with Boyd Rankin, William Porterfield and Andy McBrine, in addition to Ed Joyce, Eoin Morgan and Niall O’Brien.
With the Indian Take a look at debut of recent megastar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to return in Belfast, a tv viewers of over a billion is predicted
He made a serious contribution to teaching and Eire’s advances within the sport this century, a truth acknowledged by his elevation to the Board of Cricket Eire this 12 months, and the MBE awarded in 2011.
‘To ring the bell is a good honour, and shall be very emotional,’ he stated yesterday. ‘I performed for each nations and I used to be an important buddy of Roy Torrens.’
He’s buzzing about that, but in addition concerning the prospect of an important event on the Citadel grounds in Stormont on Friday and Sunday.
‘Will probably be a really memorable day for everybody there, superb {that a} participant like Sooryavanshi shall be making his debut right here. Such a expertise.
Bobjee had a style of the adulation during which India holds its nice stars. He performed 4 Take a look at matches as a leg-spinner in opposition to West Indies and Australia in a 10-month interval in 1978/79
‘I watch him lots on TV, he jogs my memory numerous [West Indies legend] Garry Sobers, along with his backswing. He picks the ball up so shortly.
‘Even within the IPL after they focused him with numerous brief balls, he was capable of adapt and scored 96 off 47 balls. He’s clearly very clever, he seems to be to have every thing.
‘The one take a look at he has but to face is the transferring ball in situations right here. That shall be a take a look at.’
Rao had a style of the adulation during which India holds its nice stars. He performed 4 Take a look at matches as a leg-spinner in opposition to West Indies and Australia in a 10-month interval in 1978/79.
‘My debut in opposition to the Windies was in entrance of 100,000 folks in Kolkata. Cricket is sort of a faith there, folks actually again you to do properly.’
‘It was solely once I began touring to India, and Hyderabad particularly, that I began to understand how well-known he was’ admits Niall O’Brien. ‘When I’m Hyderabad for cricket I all the time communicate to locals about him.’
Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi performs a shot through the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh final month
Quickly after that debut in Eden Gardens Rao was taking part in in entrance of crowds measured in dozens in Strabane.
‘I used to be blessed,’ he says, ‘I settled in properly.’
He returned every winter to play state cricket for Hyderabad earlier than finally settling right here along with his native spouse, Josephine.
Rao is eager to emphasize that he by no means got here throughout any racism on the taking part in fields, however noticed the discrimination many newcomers suffered within the office.
He received collectively a bunch that known as itself the Strabane Ethnic Communities Affiliation, which was launched by the Eurovision singer and neighbour Mickey Joe Harte, and John Hume MP, ‘who all the time talked to me about his left-arm spinner days’.
![Bobjee said of Sooryavanshi, above: ‘I watch him a lot on TV, he reminds me a lot of [West Indies legend] Garry Sobers, with his backswing. He picks the ball up so quickly.](https://i0.wp.com/i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/06/24/15/109568829-15926313-image-a-206_1782312246632.jpg?resize=468%2C702&ssl=1 "109568829 15926313 image a 206 1782312246632")
Bobjee stated of Sooryavanshi, above: ‘I watch him lots on TV, he jogs my memory numerous [West Indies legend] Garry Sobers, along with his backswing. He picks the ball up so shortly.
Rao labored for a time for Herdman’s Mill, operating the Sion Mills Recreation Membership, which allowed him to proceed his teaching profession with Eire.
He ought to have been appointed Head Coach in succession to Mike Hendrick, however was scandalously ignored for Ken Rutherford, whose spell in cost was a shambles.
Former Eire wicket-keeper O’Brien was coached by Rao on the U19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2000.
‘I liked taking part in for Bobby. He had a beautiful vitality and spirit about how he went about his cricket. It was clear he was extraordinarily keen about making Irish cricket higher.
‘He used to bowl on a regular basis at coaching in Queen’s College on a Sunday morning. His googly was very troublesome to play.’
In 2020, Rao and Donegal Information journalist Conor Sharkey collaborated on ‘Bobby: India and Eire… a Love Story’ which tells the story of his exceptional life.
Former Eire – and England – cricketer Ed Joyce poses subsequent to the well-known Roy Torrens Bell
He’s nonetheless effervescent with concepts about make Irish cricket higher, and now has the discussion board with a spot on the board, and a receptive new regime.
‘“Hendo” and I inspired Ed Joyce to affix Middlesex, after which Morgan, Porterfield, O’Brien adopted him to England. Folks overlook that’s the place all of it took off from. We have to get again to that scenario.’
Earlier than that, Bobjee has the small matter of a bell to ring.
