During my second year of Engineering at VIT Vellore, the craziness about cricket lead me to creation of a league which latter was known
as JPL (Jhantu Premier League). The league became very famous towards the end of final year, especially amongst Mechies. But it took JPL around two years to
get recognized and it was not so easy either. The league began unnamed, unnoticed without any specific purpose. In fact when it started it wasn’t even
a league. You can call those Jhantus a bunch of crazy cricket fans who just
wished to play cricket. JPL finds its roots way back in the year 2010. During
holi holidays when the college was closed for about five days a bunch of people, all my roommates, decided to play cricket so as to make use of the holidays. I had played before few times also but only either to fill somebody’s
place in the XI or out of my interest. This was the first time I had to do all
arrangements so that we could play. In order to have more people we involved
our neighbors from G Block.
JPL 0.0
This season was played for only five days in VIT outdoor
Stadium. The basic idea was that only those will play who does not know to play
properly, with an intention of giving opportunity to all players. We used to
just call ourselves a Jhantu. In this season runs could be made only on leg
side. These five days of cricket was full of fun. After it ended we didn’t know
whether we will play again or not. But after one year we played again during
vacations.
JPL 0.1
In
this season the League came into existence. We started calling ourselves as a
player from Jhantu Premier League. This season marked the entry of various new people and specially Mechies in to the league which made it even bigger and
better. The season began with the rivalry between E block and H block.We
played in morning and sometimes in the evening also. We played on regular basis
mainly on week days. During the later stage of this season we moved from side
of the stands to the middle of ground which now we called as the JPL pitch.
This marked an impression on the players that they are a part of league. This weekend
sessions of cricket ended with beginning of term end exams. This season was
fruitful in the sense that we had players to play on regular basis.
JPL 0.2
Seriously speaking i was in very less mood to play cricket
again. But few Jhantus started urging me to start JPL. So on February
7th 2012 it finally came into existence for the third consecutive
year. I didn’t have any idea this season was going be that massive and huge
that it was never before. A page was created on Face book and that is what lead
to enormous response. The first day only I was surprised to see few new faces
on the field, all Mechies, all enthusiastic about playing. We all know
that when Mechies assemble together for anything it is sure is going to be big
and unique in every respect (No offenses). Second day of the second
season brought a new charm to JPL and droves a huge number of Jhantus. This day
marked the beginning of online auction of Jhantus. The players were given
points by some of the experts on six different attributes namely batting,
bowling, fielding, punctuality, match winning ability and performance under
pressure. These accounted for the money. Auction was done. Teams were divided
and by late night the name of the teams along with logos came to existence. On
the third day the numbers of people were much more than expected. This season
was in all respect bigger and better than previous seasons and the quality of
play went up by a very huge margin. The JPL pitch became permanent. By this
time JPL and auction factor was known to large number of people.
JPL 0.3
This season began in the same year after the gap of one in
the last week of March. This season gave rise to a new concept of series. The
first series played in the JPL was Shahid Lala cup. It as followed by Aaryaman
Shaktiman trophy, CID cup, Master Bilang cup etc. BY this time poster making
also came into existence. Few more experiments were done while making teams
which added to the flavours of JPL. With the intensity growing JPL suffered
some setbacks due some unforgiving circumstances. But Jhantus backed themselves
well to come out of this. The quality of play enhanced. The level of fielding
also improved. Actually the Jhantus have raised the bar for themselves. Even
though all the three challenges we face we failed to prove ourselves as a
better team the fact still remains same that the purpose of JPL was not meant
for challenges but for enjoying the game of crickets to the fullest. We Jhantus
succeeded in it to the fullest. I can proudly say that JPL was by the
Jhantus, of the Jhantus and for the Jhantus. This JPL made me PITAMAH
of Jhantus.
For all these days during which JPL was played i was present. For
conducting JPL i have to wake up early and wake others by calling or waking
them personally banging their rooms. My efforts always paid as the attendance remained
fair enough all the time for play to happen. Players also need credit as they
woke up and came to field to play and enjoyed the fun. JPL page on FB is still
on and people do interact through it. JPL is something i will remember for long
in my life.
Wishes and Regards