The world seemed to be crumbling on that tragic evening on September 20, 2015. Avishek Dalmiya, ‘Mickey’ to his acquaintances, still remembers the day vividly when his father Jagmohan Dalmiya breathed his last.

An MBA in business management, Avishek was planning to set up a firm overseas when life challenged him with posers. But he didn’t shy away, decided to join cricket administration and take his father’s legacy forward.

Today, at 38, he is the youngest president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and has no qualms about taking up challenges head on.

“Honestly speaking, it was not something I planned, because it happened all of a sudden. It was because of an eventuality that I decided to come into CAB administration,” he admitted during a freewheeling chat with The Telegraph on a lazy afternoon at his 10 Alipore Road residence, the hub of many important decisions in Indian cricket.

Having worked as a secretary before being promoted to the coveted post, he doesn’t wish to be burdened by it. “If you start thinking on those lines, then it would be very difficult to function,” he says.

“An honest confession, Mr Sourav Ganguly and Mr Dalmiya were greats. The former transformed Indian cricket at a time when things were low… As an administrator too, he did a fairly good job. We hosted a couple of very important matches in 2016 World T20. Then he restructured our local cricket and started the Vision 2020 programme. It would be foolish to compare myself with him or think that I’m stepping into his shoes. No point taking any additional burden.”

Avishek sits on the same chair that was occupied by Sourav at the Dr B.C. Roy Club House, but not the one on which the senior Dalmiya sat for close to three decades.

“It’s the same chair on which Mr Sourav Ganguly used to sit. The chair on which my father sat at the CAB is in my office, M.L. Dalmiya & Co. My sister Baishali occupies that while the one which was used by him as chairman at Shakespeare Sarani office, is used by me,” he informed.

“We share a fantastic relationship… A very small family. We try to share every little thing that we have, including our emotions, because I think that the chair holds a lot of emotions, a lot of memories.”

Wanderlust

Avishek shares a close bond with nephew Aditya. “I think he’s more of a friend than a nephew. We have shared some wonderful times. He’s also my travel partner. That’s very important because I keep checking on his exam schedules and routines so that I could plan when to go on a vacation. As you know, I’m a travel freak. Whenever I see the slightest of opportunities, I tend to take a break. So that’s a weakness.

“As I was telling you, things are not always planned. It’s always not the way you want it to be. I’m very passionate about cricket. The other passion remains travelling. Initially, I had thought that I would set up a business abroad, so that I could be overseas for a while and every weekend would get an opportunity to visit different countries. So that was the thought process, but it didn’t materialise. However, I’m enjoying what I’m doing at present.

“You have to take it as it comes and I’ve absolutely no regrets on that. But then yes, I do miss my parents since it has been a turbulent phase. Like every person, I think parents are like Gods. Personally, I have immense belief and faith in God, but then I haven’t seen God… But I’ve seen my parents. ”

Deadline matters

The strong values his parents imparted still drives Avishek in his daily chores. Tongue in cheek, he also admits being a late riser.

“I go to office around noon… I’m there till about 5.30 in the evening. After that I leave for the CAB and stay till about 9.30 unless it gets extended. But that’s only at the time of matches at Eden Gardens. Then I meet my friends, may be between 9 and 10.30, because my father had set a deadline of 10.30 to be back home. As soon as it’s 10.30, you know, alarm bells start to ring saying ‘it’s time to go home’.”

Games he plays

Avishek isn’t hooked to Netflix but used to frequently engage in PlayStation games.

His “source of sustenance” remains a Great Dane and a Siberian Husky and he spends quality time with them at home.

“I used to be busy on PlayStation, and, in fact, my father used to buy me those eSports CDs. But it’s not that I had a very luxurious childhood. My parents always said that you have to maintain a certain balance in your

life. Because of that you will still not find me wearing too many branded clothes, or shoes, because I’m not used to it,” he says.

But administrator Avishek is determined to make up for his lost cricketing ambitions.

“I was told not to play too much of serious cricket. My father thought that it would tantamount to conflict of interest, because he was holding the chair and if I got selected it would not be proper. Also, if I didn’t get selected, he felt it would spoil my confidence… I, however, did play for my school La Martiniere for Boys and for Rajasthan Club as well.”

Avishek is aware of the dissent in certain quarters after being elevated to the president’s post.

“In a democracy, it’s always good to have divergent views. Ultimately, democracy is nothing but a game of numbers. Whatever the majority wants, that’s what happens eventually,” he says with masterful diplomacy.

A touch of Dalmiya Senior there, perhaps.