It is a hot summer’s day, with the clock striking three. A batsman strikes the ball for a beautiful six. The ball flies above the boundary rope at the YMCA ground in Pune. “Aae chokra, ball la!” ordered the Englishman. A young Chandu, hardly 10 years old, ran to fetch the ball. Little did he know that this moment would ignite his passion for cricket.
Chandu Borde, born on July 21, 1934, in Pune, Maharashtra, is a celebrated former Indian cricketer, often described by critics as the world’s first all-rounder. Chandu was born into a Marathi Christian family, along with nine other siblings. He stayed with his uncle at the YMCA in Pune, where he often flew kites with his friends. He grew up fetching balls for the club cricketers and dreamt of one day playing alongside them. After the team finished playing for the day, Chandu started throwing and catching the ball by himself. Soon after, he was found playing alone in the nets until late evenings. He was happy carting kit bags on his cycle for the YMCA team at friendly games. During one of these friendlies, a bowler had to prematurely exit due to an unfortunate incident. This introduced Chandu to the world of cricket. Soon after, God started unfolding His plans for young Chandu.
One of the only professional cricketers in the world without a coach, he learned solely through observation. Starting off as a Ranji player for Maharashtra, he went on to play for Baroda in 1953/54. Four years later, he became the first cricketer from Pune to play for India. He faced a bloodthirsty West Indies squad in India, with their bowlers on a mission to destroy the limbs of batsmen. Like Goliath, the bowlers proved to be a tough challenge for 24-year-old Chandu, and he was dropped from the squad after two matches. It felt like the dream was ending. The cricket miracle had run its course, and Chandu did not speak to anyone for two days.
That evening, Benjamin, Chandu’s brother, who was traveling with him, knocked on Chandu’s door. Chandu’s face was sodden, unable to hide the tears from his brother. Benjamin hugged Chandu and asked him to kneel down. Both of them prayed until their legs gave way. God works in mysterious ways! Lo and behold, Chandu was picked for the team for the next match. This time, he invoked his best. He went on to play for India for ten long years, as well as first-class cricket for 25 years. He also served as the Chairman of the Selection Committee from 1985-88 and 2001-04. From being lifted up at Brabourne Stadium by Raj Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan to winning the Padma Bhushan award from the President, Chandu has lived it all.
Today, at age 90, Chandu Borde has no regrets, just memories. “I make sure to get good sleep, pray regularly, do Bible study, and meet other community members every Sunday at church, explains the energetic Chandu Borde. “I like to stay busy, not lazy”, is the mantra of his mental health. Even today you can spot Chandu Borde walking at the Poona Club in the evening, rain or shine.
Borde’s life is a testament to the harmonious blend of sports and spirituality. His love for Christ and unwavering faith provided him with strength and guidance throughout his career and personal life. Known for his humility, kindness, and generosity, Chandu Borde remains an inspirational figure, not just for his cricketing prowess but also for his exemplary life guided by faith and service to others.
