Real royals flock Ranji final

“The tent used to be much bigger,but unfortunately it got eaten up by termites. I have grown up watching cricket from here,” says Samarjitsingh,presently a member of the Baroda Cricket Association.

Considering the influence that the royal families have had on cricket,both in Baroda and Rajasthan,it was only fitting that the first-ever meeting between the two state teams indeed had royalty in attendance. “Probably if this match was played 50 years ago,we would have had elephants and caravans surrounding the ground,” he quips.

An ecstatic Lakshyaraj Singh,who is the president of the Udaipur Cricket Association,meanwhile,finds it difficult to control his emotions after Rajasthan have finally reigned supreme at their ninth attempt. “For 30 years,Rajasthan cricket has been struggling to make a significant impact. While the win against Mumbai was very special,this is the perfect dessert after a grand feast. I am sure the souls of the past greats from my state,including my grandfather,will be popping champagne bottles as we speak,” he says.

It would definitely be interesting to find out when a cricket match in India last witnessed such a royal feel to proceedings and also when two princes from different states stood side by side for a Ranji Trophy title presentation ceremony.