Who Is M. Buchi Babu Naidu? The Man Behind Famous Invitation Tournament
Buchi Babu Naidu (X.com)
The Buchi Babu tournament, a cornerstone of India's cricket history, is a long-format cricket tournament slated to begin on 15 August. But who is the tournament named after and what historical significance does it hold?
The tournament derives its name from the pioneering efforts of Mothavarapu Venkata Mahipathi Naidu, popularly known as Buchi Babu Naidu, who introduced cricket to Madras during the country's colonial rule, leaving an indelible mark on the country's sporting history.
Buchi Babu Tournament: How it all began
This tournament is a way to honour Naidu, who unfortunately left for his heavenly abode before the commencement of the inaugural edition. Following his untimely demise, the competition was named after him.
Interestingly, it was India's most popular cricket tournament even before the prestigious Ranji Trophy, which came into existence in 1934.
This tournament started to enable talented local players to showcase their skills against the Englishmen.
The upcoming 2024 edition will be played at four venues in Tamil Nadu: Tirunelveli, Salem, Coimbatore and Natham, including the semi-finals and the finals.
The tournament is expected to feature some popular players like Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer and even Ishan Kishan, who will captaining Jharkhand in the tournament.
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