He was nearly 25 years my senior in age but that was quickly bridged when we talked cricket. Balu Alaganan was the perfect gentleman cricketer I have come across. He could never think or say anything mean or negative even if he tried. Positive thinking and talking was all that he believed in. But the gentle demeanor and easy smile did not hide his profound knowledge of various aspects of the game.
I was too young to see him play but thanks to my profession as a sports journalist I had the good fortune of having long chats with him during the days when he was active as an administrator, selector and one of the leading commentators over All India Radio. At the MAC stadium while watching a match, at a social function or whenever we met casually the talk was always about cricket a game he loved and embellished during a decade-long first class career.
The figures against his name are modest — just six matches and 191 runs with a highest score of 106 and three wickets at six runs apiece. But Alaganan has an honoured place in Tamil Nadu cricket as the man who was at the helm when the state first won the Ranji Trophy in 1954-55.
For 19 years Madras had participated in the national championship and their best was reaching the final twice in 1935-36 and 1940-41.
It was left to Alaganan and his team members to break the jinx. He didn’t do it with an all-conquering side for the squad had just one player who had represented India in an official Test in CD Gopinath.
But he was a popular captain and his inspiring leadership saw Madras pull off an upset 46-run victory over hotly fancied Holkar at Indore.
For the record Holkar had three players who had represented India in official Tests in skipper Mushtaq Ali, CT Sarwate and Hiralal Gaikwad besides BB Nimbalkar who had played in an unofficial ‘Test’. And he was not a captain just in name for he played a crucial role in that final triumph.
When MK Murugesh joined him for the last wicket in the second innings Madras were in a shaky position. The story goes that Murugesh told his captain “don’t treat me as a tailender, I will stay with you.”
And he did getting 36 and figuring in a 92-run partnership that proved decisive in the end. Alaganan himself remained unbeaten with 56. Typical of Alaganan he spoke highly of his team mates saying that he was lucky to have as his colleagues a band of fine sportsmen whose aim was only to do well as a team. He also gave credit to the two coaches AG Ram Singh and KS Kannan who he said “spared no effort in moulding us into a well trained and disciplined unit.”
Born into an affluent family Alaganan had his high school education in Colombo. Coming back to Madras he played for and captained Madras Christian College.
Better known for his cricketing ability Alaganan was also a fine tennis player good enough to win state titles in singles and doubles. He was also a familiar figure in golfing circles and loved to discuss the two sports.
As a selector he had an eye for spotting talent and as an administrator — he was TNCA President from the late 1980s to the early 1990s — all that mattered to him was whether the decisions taken by the executive committee benefited the game and the players.