When the ground does start to fill up with white-flannelled figures of young cricketers, greetings are directed toward Bajiraokaka. ``Everybody here knows me,'' says Bajirao, his wrinkled face breaking into a toothless smile. For generations of sportsmen Bajiraokaka is a familiar face who puts up nets, prepares the pitch and helps in his capacity as groundsman.

``As a young boy I would play for my class team.'' That link to the game was to be renewed in the 1957 when he took up the job of a groundsman at the PYC grounds. He put in a stint supplying milk but had to give it up after he ran into a loss. ``Within five days of getting the job I had mastered all my duties.'' These included placing the nets during net practice, running odd jobs during the match, like getting water and arranging lunch for the players. His real skill, Bajirao reveals, lies in preparing the pitch.

``There is a technique that goes into getting the pitch ready for play. The grass should be cut and the ground sprinkled with water. Half an hour after passing a light roller over the ground a heavy roller should be passed over it so that all the grass gets pressed automatically into the ground and you get a plain wicket. During the Vijay Merchant Trophy match between teams led by K. Shrikant and Kirti Azad I had prepared such a perfect pitch that I was given a reward of Rs. 100,'' he says with justifiable pride.

When the young cricketers, who come for net practice in the mornings and again in the afternoon, need a bowler, Bajirao readily obliges. ``If their coach is not around I also tell them how to play. One should play ground strokes with the body bent forward. Batsmen start hitting out once they are at the wicket. The trick is to stick it out at the wicket till the first 50 runs and then start to hit like Australians Marsh and Boone used to do,'' he explains patiently.

The affection that he feels for the young lads who come to the stadium is mutual, Bajirao is quick to point out. ``The children have given me this pair of canvas shoes and this cap,'' he says fondly.

A cricket-lover to the core Bajirao dates events not by their year but by the match played at the time. ``I started working at the Nehru stadium when Gower was the captain of the English team and they had come here to play against Pakistan.''

Bajirao's secret skill is bowling the leg spin, which he claims is impossible to play to. ``During net practice before a New Zealand Vs India match here, New Zealand captain Martin Crowe asked me to bowl. I bowled him a googly which hit the stumps and he started to curse. After the match the umpire asked me to get Crowe's autograph. I was a little afraid to approach him but when I went to the pavilion he not only gave his autograph but even presented me his cap and a cigarette lighter, introducing me to his team mates as the man who had him cleaned bowled earlier in the day!'' he remembers.

While Bajirao keeps himself busy on the ground during the invitation matches and the Ranji test cricket selection matches, he cannot keep away even during the monsoons, walking all the way from his Sadashiv Peth residence. ``As part of the seasonal service I'm given a fee by the cricket clubs who come here for their matches. I wish the Maharashtra Cricket Association would appreciate the years of service I have put in and pay me a remuneration,'' is Bajirao's only complaint.

A bachelor who has led an independent life, Bajirao spends his free time in prayer and yes, watching some more cricket on television. ``I like the game'' says he and he would not have it any other way.