Bharadwaj K Jolly Rovers India Cements Cricketer passes away

Since March this year, from the time the story on KR Rajagopal was written on this blog, K Bharadwaj, former Jolly Rovers' middle order batsman and one of KR Rajagopal's best friends, had been calling this writer every week from his home in Koramangala to enquire about Raja's health. He was genuinely concerned about the deteriorating condition of Raja. When he came to know about N Sankar's call to Raja offering all help the morning after the blog story (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/03/kr-rajagopal-dashing-opener-brilliant.html) featured, Bharadwaj called this writer to express delight at Sankar's great gesture. "Only Sankar could do this", he told this writer. 

Ever since, he had also been calling Rajagopal quite regularly over the last 8 months to enquire about his well being. Covid and restrictions in Bangalore meant that the two could not meet each other this year. When the TNCA and CSK/India Cements felicitated Rajagopal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/08/kr-rajagopal-tn-batting-legend.html), he called this writer that same evening (Aug 10) conveying his happiness for Raja and told this writer that N Srinivasan's financial contribution would go a long way towards meeting the dialysis expenses of Rajagopal.

In October, when this writer requested Bharadwaj, as a long time friend of Rajagopal, to talk to the two daughters when they made the trip to Bangalore, he had no second thoughts and went out of his way and made a bold statement to them "I asked them to extend their stay in Bangalore by a week to a fortnight to take care of their father. I told them that at least one of the two could stay back."

It showed how much he cared for Rajagopal.

Bharadwaj began his league cricket stint at Milky Way and BRC and went on to play for Jolly Rovers in the 1970s including under the captaincy of Rajagopal. He played for Vivekananda College and Junior State in the late 1950s and early 60s. He joined India Cements in their accounts section in 1966 and later on moved into the admininstration department from where he retired in December 2003.

During Rajagopal's hey days in the late 1960s, Bharadwaj played host ahead of league matches in the city. In those years, Barathwaj stayed on Mowbrays ( TTK) Road and used to accompany Rajagopal for many of the matches both in Madras as well as outside. He told this writer in March this year on his Mylapore memories from the 1960s “Rajagopal was staying far off in Nandambakkam closer to the India Cements foundry. On many occasions, he would come home to Mowbrays road on the night before the match, have a quick wash and breakfast in the morning before leaving for the ground. Chepauk, Marina and Vivekananda were a lot closer to my place and he found it comfortable to leave for the match from here.”

A shocked Rajagopal told this writer from his home in Bangalore that  Bharadwaj was such a kind hearted person and a genuine cricket lover "We were very close friends right from the 1960s. He made several calls to me this year to check on my health. When I was felicitated by the TNCA, he was so happy for me and told me as to how the contribution from N Srinivasan (CSK/ India Cements) would prove useful for my dialysis.”

Earlier this year, Bharadwaj recalled the greatness of Rajagopal from cricket matches 60 years ago “Playing at one of the High School grounds (there were three of them next to each other) in Bangalore which were rectangular in size, Rajagopal would belt the ball so hard that it would often go into the other grounds. Once Raja Raghavan fielding at Mid Off was so tired chasing and bringing back the ball that he ordered his captain to organise an auto when Rajagopal was batting so he could take the auto to bring back the ball."

A competent middle order batsman, Bharadwaj also recalled the dangers of batting in the 1960s and 70s “Protective equipments were of poor quality A strike on your fingers would result in a fracture. The pads were heavy and would turn direction as you ran a quick single or two. The buckle in the strap would often poke your ankle as you ran. The bats were oiled and ‘seasoned’ but it had no power. When one played the drive, one often felt a shock in the hand.”  

He often travelled with Rajagopal for cricket matches across the country and remembered vividly the moments of shock in 1967 when Rajagopal was on the verge of being selected for India for the tour of Australia “In the pre selection camp, Raja hooked Umesh Kulkarni for a six off the first ball and he literally took the leather off the ball. After they watched him bat in the camp, they were very impressed with what they saw. Everyone knew he was a certainty for the tour. But shockingly he was not selected. In those days, every effort was made to keep the Madrasis away at the national level. Raja was never the same again.” 

KS Viswanathan, CEO of CSK, worked with Bharadwaj at India Cements from the 1970s for many decades. He remembers him as a great team man“Bharadwaj was a very organised and disciplined individual. He was committed to the team and everything he did was with meticulous planning. He was a stylish batsmen, always immaculately dressed and a great team man.”

Bharadwaj was almost the same age as Sanmar Group's N Sankar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/jolly-rovers-n-sankar-75.html) and both had watched many matches together in the late 1960s, especially of Rajagopal batting at his best. Sankar remembers Bharadwaj from that phase "He was always well dressed.  There was a certain style about him and he carried himself well. His pant was always clean and unwrinkled."

His wife, Bhavani, told this writer that he had been enjoying good health and had been taking care of himself quite well through the Pandemic and that his sudden demise has come as a huge shock "He was always talking of Rajagopal this year and would often make calls to him to enquire about his health. He had been doing his walks around the apartment and was cheerful with the unlocking of the restrictions. It was on the evening of November 14 that he developed some health issues and was admitted to the hospital. He came back home a few days later but suffered a massive heart attack and passed away on Nov 19."

Bharadwaj was 77. He had been a resident of Abiramapuram 3rd street for 8years and then lived on Balakrishna Road (near Sanskrit College) for three decades. It was just under two years ago that he moved to Koramangala, Bangalore to stay with his son. 

His wife can be reached on 99802 90555.