Tennis legend Naresh Kumar departs at 93
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Naresh Kumar
Naresh Kumar, the man who plotted many thrilling Davis Cup wins for India, passed away at the age of 93 on Wednesday. As a player, Naresh belonged to the wooden racquet generation, where he had the company of artists like Ramanathan Krishnan.
Calcutta is a city which has produced a galaxy of tennis players. Premjit Lal, Jaidip Mukherjea, Leander Paes, all of them were from Calcutta. The lush green and well-manicured lawns of the South Club in Calcutta, now Kolkata, was the nursery for tennis players.
Naresh Kumar, Master of Davis Cup wins moulded the career of Leander Paes in formative years
Those were the days when playing tennis on grass was exquisite. Naresh may not have been as big a player as Premjit or Jaidip, but he was certainly a captain who showed how to bring the best out of players in Davis Cup. For the record, he had reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1955.
He had also competed against legends like Rod Laver. As a human being, Naresh Kumar was a thorough gentleman with a kind heart. His business was related to the coal industry. But his heart and soul was in tennis, literally. Dressed immaculately, he always came across as one who belonged to the elite society.
His English was brilliant and the columns he wrote for The Telegraph in Calcutta, were enlightening. His observations were razor sharp and crisp. Just like the way he spoke. Oh, how many interactions I had with Naresh Kumar in the 90s. In charge of the Davis Cup team, it was Naresh Kumar who brought the best out of Leander Paes since the time he exploded onto the big stage in Chandigarh in 1990.
That was a dream debut for Leander with Zeeshan Ali in doubles against Japan. Perhaps, that was the birth of Leander the legend in Cup play. Leander was raw, full of energy and full of bubble. His enthusiasm was like that of a child, all the time wanting to do something.
Those days, when Davis Cup ties were best of five sets, to prepare the team was not easy. If, first, Naresh would handle Leander with kid gloves, then he had to ensure how to mesh two players from different generations. That was Leander and touch artist Ramesh Krishnan.
The results which India achieved in the heady days from 1991 to 1993 in Davis Cup are part of folklore. Naresh Sir, as he was addressed by the players, was a strict disciplinarian. He ensured players were well taken care of. He had coaches to look after the drills.
Where Naresh showed he could work best with the team was in strategising, planning and showing his skills to egg on players. He matched Leander’s infectious enthusiasm in Davis Cup where the teenager would be pumped up after winning each point. Non-playing captain Naresh Kumar had to keep getting up from his chair, close to the sidelines and clap.
Naresh Kumar, despite his age, had the debonair looks. Red T-shirt, cream trousers, tennis shoes, wearing the smartest pair of dark glasses, he was a class apart. Hs patience was monumental and he was well versed with modern tennis. As a world class commentator who was mentioned by the BBC as “one of the best tennis brains” Naresh Kumar was par excellence.
The shows on radio he hosted during the Wimbledon fortnight for BBC made him a celebrity. Yet, when he took over as Team India captain, he was ready to nurture the team like a father figure. The results which India produced then in the 90s, beating the Swiss, French in Frejus on brick red clay and a few more teams was unbelievable.
The run in 1993 lasted till the semi-finals against Australia in Chandigarh. India did lose that tie 5-0 and by then Naresh Kumar had decided it was time to say goodbye. He almost choked when he spoke 29 years ago at his farewell presser as the players were getting a raw deal from the All India Tennis Association.
“Players cannot compete on hungry bellies,” he thundered. Eyes moist, and bloodshot. There was passion in what he spoke that day. It moved you to tears as Naresh was bidding goodbye. Today, tears well up to address Naresh Sir in past tense.
He brought the best out of players, knew what carbo-loading was and how important hydration was for the players. For Leander and Ramesh to be ready to last 15 sets over three days was a challenge of Himalayan proportion. Naresh Kumar was educated in all that as well.
There was Dr Vece Paes for company, though, a wonderful team member. Physios and masseurs were there for Ramesh Krishnan as well. Yet, the acid test was how to prepare players mentally. Naresh Kumar taught us how the underdog could bark and bite.
RIP Tennis Boss.
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)