Even as we missed our date with the Melbourne Cricket Ground following Team India’s dismal performance in the semi-final at the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup, all is not lost for us.
Former Davis Cupper Chiradip Mukerjea, a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) since 1996, won the prestigious Hans Ebeling Award on November 9.
Born in Kolkata in 1953, Mukerjea started his professional tour in the 1970s. He was unbeaten during his Davis Cup career for India, winning three singles and one doubles rubber. His first Davis Cup appearance came in India's 4–0 win over Pakistan in 1973.
“I was humbled to receive the Hans Ebeling Award. The award is given for outstanding service to the club's sporting sections and I am truly happy,” Mukerjea told My Kolkata. As a part of the tradition, his portrait will now adorn a wall of the members' dining room, alongside photos of previous Hans Ebeling Award winners. The award was introduced in 1981.
Mukerjea, who is fondly known as Chiro, received the award at a glittering dinner party attended by over 300 people at the MCG. He is the first Indian to receive the award.
