It is not so much the pace and bounce but swing holds the key on this tricky wicket. It is not so much the technique but the self belief  to counter the swing that will prove decisive. But is there a definite vote swing? Will Khusroo Dhunjibhoy emerge the Sultan of swing or will Vivek Jain wielding the willow remain the King. Well the members of the RWITC will put up the score card on Dec 16, the election day at Mahalaxmi.  

It is one big fight. And it has generated more interest than the Muhammed Ali versus Joe Frazer  epic battle did in Manila many many summers ago. Khusroo is playing Ali, float like a butterfly and sting like a bee while Vivek is the smokin Joe waiting to land the sucker punch on E-day.  The members are loving it despite the fact that there is no lyrical ring, rather it is the ominous tone being played in all the election campaigns of the two groups. 

Team Dhunjibhoy  is confident that a vote for change it will be. And they reckon that the winds of change are blowing in their favour. The sitting group is not impressed. We are sitting pretty and no wind or storm can change our position is their belief.  It is fun under the cool winter sun from the members point of view and they know that they are no more the pawns but king makers of the chess board.

Frankly speaking and knowing how the results pan out each year. It is not the active members who call the shots  but it is the sleeping members, who have made no investment in the game nor have contributed or supported the sport who determine the results and this is a sad commentary.

Well how many `sleepers’ including the many who are at home on foreign land and make their presence felt only twice in a year, on Derby day and election day know that RWITC treated Pesi Shroff an icon in Indian racing badly. The champion was left running helter skelter looking for shelter after the club had served a nine-month suspension on the legend following the Bullseye doping case, charging him with vicarious responsibility. That Shroff chose to contest the case contending that it was sabotage and the crime branch investigation is another story. But the fact is in all other sport every effort is made to protect the image of a legend but here the champion was sadly nailed at the altar of convenience.

The decision makers will tell you that no individual is bigger than the game and any violation of rules will incur penalty be it Pesi Shroff  or Khusroo Dhunjibhoy. The point is right but the fact remains that one attains legendary status playing the game neat and clean.

Coming back to the sleeping members you need to understand that it is pay back time for them. They need to return the favour of their proposers and seconders who helped them gain membership and they end up ticking the boxes marked by the proposers  and this again is sad.

In the two groups, two men stand tall. Zavaray Poonawalla (Vivek group) for the love and passion and more importantly to the big contribution the Poonawalla family has made to the sport and Vijay Shirke (Team Dhunjibhoy) who undoubtedly is the most clean owner in the game and like Zavaray has made immense contribution to the game. The sleeping members will do a favour to the sport by ticking the names of the two first simply because the sport needs the Poonawallas and Shirkes for the promotion and development of the sport in this country.

Khusroo Dhunjibhoy in a meet the press session on Friday  declared that his group has big plans for the premier club. “ If we gain the desired mandate we will chart out a new course,” said Khusroo. The former chairman made it clear that he will not resort to mud-slinging in his effort to gain the vote. Khusroo disclosed that his team will provide transparency and effort will made to campaign against high betting tax and introduction of professional stewards. Khusroo revealed that his team had already designed plans to provide a carnival atmosphere at the course. And the lease renewal will be the top priority of Team Dhunjibhoy.

Well it all sounds good from the railbirds point of view. To facilitate the racing buffs should be top on the agenda be it Dhunjibhoy or Vivek. Apart from owners they are  the chief patrons of the game who keep the sport alive. But unfortunately they are the ones who are left facing yorkers while the big batters are negotiating the swing.

Yes. Swing holds the key and which way it will swing will determine the result in what appears to be a blood, sweat and tears exercise on E-day.