For the love of the red cherry: London banker Paul Garwood’s 7700km journey to experience India’s domestic cricket

HUBBALI: Until last Thursday, Paul Garwood had never heard of Hubballi. When he discovered it was a potential venue for the Ranji Trophy final, the London-based banker searched for the town, studied its geography, applied for an Indian visa and booked his ticket.At a time when interest in domestic cricket often takes a back seat, the Englishman’s decision to fly across continents to watch a Ranji final stands out — particularly with the ICC T20 World Cup underway. As Paul landed in the north Karnataka city and prepared to watch his first domestic match in India, he was brimming with quiet excitement.“I’m a cricket and an Indian nut from the south of England,” said Paul, who hails from Suffolk. “I started coming to India three or four years ago and watched matches in Indore and Dharamshala. And here I am in Hubballi to watch the Ranji Trophy final, which I’m very much looking forward to.”A confessed connoisseur of Indian cuisine — with a particular fondness for south Indian fare — Paul sees his trips as a blend of cricket and culture.On choosing the Ranji final over the T20 World Cup, he said. “I’d love to have seen the World Cup. However, I couldn’t make the dates work. And honestly, I’d rather watch three or four days of solid cricket rather than a match that lasts 40 overs.”A club-level spinner who turns out for Mistley Cricket Club back home, Paul has followed India’s premier domestic competition over the past few weeks.“I’d positioned myself to be away from work and potentially watch the World Cup, and it didn’t work out. So I googled Ranji Trophy fixtures and saw that this week was the final. I was probably the only person in England following the Ranji Trophy semifinals,” he said with a laugh.With the Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir teams in the final, Paul waited to learn the host city.“When I saw the two finalists were Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir, I didn’t know where either would have their base. I thought it could be Bengaluru,” he admitted. “And when I saw Hubballi, I thought it sounded like something out of a Willy Wonka film. Then I thought, "I've never been this far south in India — it could be fun.”For Paul, the draw is not a particular team but the cricket itself.“I just want to see a few good days of competitive cricket,” said Paul, who has been raised on a steady diet of Indian greats with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath being among his favourites. Garwood’s journey is a reminder that the Love for the red cherry still travels far, in his case London to Hubballi.