By Gulu Ezekiel
Indian sports writer |
Twenty years ago, Indian cricket was on the crest of a wave after the national team won the World Cup.
 Kunal Lal is just starting out on his first-class career |
Now some of those famous names are again making an impact, thanks to a new generation of cricket talent.
Left-arm bowler Kunal Lal, son of Delhi coach and World Cup winner Madan Lal, made his mark in his Ranji Trophy debut against Railways, picking up three wickets in the first innings and two in the second.
The father is perhaps understandably protective.
"Kunal has just started. He is new to the world of cricket. Let him play a few more matches before speaking to the press," he said.
While Madan Lal finished the World Cup 20 years ago as second highest wicket-taker with 17, top honours went to Roger Binny.
He too is involved in coaching and his son Stuart, also 19, is a mirror-image of his father - right-arm medium pace bowler, useful lower-order batsman and fine fielder.
He is a regular member of the Karnataka team and represented India at the Under-19 World Cup.
It may not be too long before he is joined in the state side by Sadiq Kirmani, the son of Syed Kirmani, who was voted the best wicket-keeper of the 1983 World Cup and is now chairman of the national selection committee.
Sadiq is also a keeper/batsman and represents Karnataka in the Under-15 tournament.
Master batsman Sunil Gavaskar's son Rohan is the oldest of the new generation and currently captain of the Bengal state side, as well as being a fixture in the India A team.
Rohan, who unlike his legendary father bats left-handed, recently hit a match-winning 173 against Sri Lanka A in the second 'Test' at Pune.
The name may not, however, always be an advantage, with Gavaskar Sr concerned that his son is too often on the wrong end of poor umpiring decisions.
"It could well be that umpires are trying to show that they are not influenced by the Gavaskar name and don't give him the benefit of the doubt which they would perhaps give to someone else," he said recently.
There are plenty of others with famous connections making their mark in Indian cricket.
Also making his first-class debut for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy match against Railways was Pururaj Singh Rathore, who like his uncle Chetan Chauhan (40 Tests for India) a right-handed opening batsman.
Then there is Jogram Yadav, whose father Shivlal is currently manager of the Indian team touring Australia and took over 100 Test wickets during his career.
And teenage off-spinner Udit Patel is the son of Karnataka stalwart Brijesh Patel, a middle-order batsman who played 21 Tests in the 70s.
Looking back to 1983, however, one name central to India's success at Lord's was that of captain Kapil Dev.
And his is a name which has yet to appear among the new generation - his only child is an eight-year-old daughter.
MMIX
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He has always worked hard at his cricket 