It was a revelation Nadella rated dad higher than Tendulkar: ML Jaisimha’s son Vidyuth

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had the attention of cricket fans last week when he revealed that his hero was not Sachin Tendulkar, but Hyderabad great ML Jaisimha. “I’m a Hyderabadi and a romantic at heart, so ML Jaisimha,” the Microsoft CEO had said when asked about his favourite cricketer. His choice surprised many, including the cricketer’s son, Vidyuth Jaisimha. “Honestly, it was quite a revelation for all of us to learn that he actually remembers and rated my dad higher than Tendulkar,” Vidyuth told ETPanache over the phone.

Nadella and Vidyuth share another connection. “He was in the same school as my brother and me in Begumpet,” said Vidyuth, who started a cricketing academy in Hyderabad with his mother and wife. “I passed out in 1983 and I think he had finished schooling a year or two earlier. I never knew him in school, but I’ve read in his book that he was really big on cricket.” Nadella said in his book that even though his father would hang posters of Karl Marx in his bedroom and his mother of Goddess Lakshmi, the only poster he wanted was that of Jaisimha.

On the other hand, Vidyuth revealed that his own bedroom was filled with posters of musicians. There were no cricketers featuring on his walls. “I’m talking of the ’80s. We were mainly influenced by music. Madonna, Duran and Neil Diamond were plastered on the walls of my room,” he says.

Vidyuth said he is keen to have Nadella visit his cricket academy. “The academy was started in the memory of my father. I wish we could get in touch with Satya Nadella to invite him over. He could perhaps visit when he’s in Hyderabad the next time,” he said.