Friends, my mother name is Rajani. She has a lovable nature and always encouraged me. My mother was employed in LIC and father was well known poet, critic and a professor in Kirti College, Mumbai. I wanted to be an expert tennis player. I had watched the match between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe with keen interest. During the match all were on the side of Borg. I was the only boy who was on McEnroe's side. I wanted to become a tennis player like him. For that I had requested my father to give me a tennis racket, wrist and hand bands. All used to call me Mac for my love of McEnroe. I received this only because my mother never forced me to take up certain profession or behave in a certain way. Her day off was an opportunity for us. On that day there used to be different dishes prepared at home. There used to be chitchatting also. In my house my family loved fish. Everybody loved non-vegetarian food. I used to like vegetarian food. My mother did not compel me in that regard also. I was taught by her to be hard working in life. When playing, one should enjoy it. Victory or losing was not important, she used to say. Never play under pressure. She used to tell me "You should always play with your full capacity".
I went to play my first club level match in life. I was fully prepared. Achrekar sir and the captain of that team could not contact each other and he did not know that I was included in his team. Therefore, I had to watch the match by sitting among the spectators. Even then I was not disappointed. During a few matches in the beginning I was out for zero.
My brother, my relatives were little disappointed. But I never left pressure of those failures on my mind. I received the strength from teachings and coaching of my mother. The praise, which she expresses in words or by action when I do something remarkable in cricket, is more important for me. My mother always encouraged me. She backed my every decision. My mother always stressed the importance of education.
But when I started playing for the Indian team at the age of 14, she gave up her insistance for education and encouraged the the cricketer in me.
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