Cricket Gold Coast: Hrihan, Ishaan Malhotra feature in memorial game honouring their late father Vikas

The legacy of Vikas Malhotra lived on at Queens Cricket Club on Saturday as his two sons featured in the memorial game honouring the five-year anniversary of his tragic on-field death.

Gold Coast cricketer Vikas Malhotra, who died of a heart attack while fielding in 20199. Picture: Jodie Henderson.

The legacy of Vikas Malhotra lived on at Queens Cricket Club on Saturday as his two sons featured in the memorial game honouring the five-year anniversary of his tragic on-field death.

For 15-year-old Hrihan Malhotra, it was his first game of senior cricket and the first time he had played alongside his brother Ishaan.

Queens stalwart Peter Goodchap was among the players who featured in the fourth grade memorial clash after playing alongside Vikas for 20 years, and was playing in the game where he died of a heart attack while fielding in 2019.

“It had a lot of meaning to me as well to be there with his boys on the day,” said Goodchap.

“I played a lot of cricket with Vik, I played in his first game he ever played in Australia at Queens and was good mates with him for a long-time.

“It was just an all-round fantastic day (on Saturday), the boys (Hrihan and Ishaan) really did have a lot of involvement in the game and did well and helped us get an easy win for Vik.”

Queens bowled Bond University out for 158 before chasing the total inside 18 overs for the loss of only two wickets.

The match had been moved to Dux Oval in Labrador, the ground where Vikas lost his life, at Queens’ request and his wife Debi – who plays women’s cricket with the club – and mum Sunita were also in attendance.

Ishaan, Hrihan, Debi and Sunita Malhotra at the memorial game honouring the five-year anniversary of Vikas Malhotra's on-field death. Picture: Supplied.

“Neither of (Hrihan and Ishaan) give away too much emotionally, but I think it was tough for Hrihan to actually play senior cricket there on the day, but he did really well,” Goodchap said.

“We made sure that both of them got to bat and bowl, both bowled well and Hrihan bowled incredibly well for a young kid, we tried to make it as much about them as possible.”

Hrihan’s leg spin took 2-11 from 4.3 overs, while Ishaan finished with figures of 1-27.

Ishaan Malhotra, Hrihan Malhotra and Peter Goodchap at the memorial game honouring the five-year anniversary of Vikas Malhotra's on-field death. Goodchap spent 20 years playing alongside Vikas. Picture: Supplied.

“Both boys fielded well,” Goodchap said.

“Their father was a very good fielder, he was always quick to the ball and would get the ball quickly and throw to the stumps and got run outs that way.

“You could just see that both boys had that in them as well. It was cool to see a lot of the aspects of their father in their play.”

Kurt Marriott retired on 36 not out so Ishaan could come to the crease with 15 runs needed to win, and Goodchap was set to retire so Hrihan could join him but Ishaan was dismissed, leaving Goodchap and Hrihan to steer the side to victory.

Goodchap finished on 85 not out from just 55 balls.

“I used to always have competitions with Vik who could hit the most sixes, and I hit a couple of sixes yesterday, he would’ve been smiling watching me swing hard and try to hit sixes,” Goodchap said.

Queens held a six-hitting competition across the weekend to honour Malhotra, which was won by Marriott with his four maximums after all the club’s other senior games were washed out.

Goodchap remembered Vikas as a “fantastic bloke” who always wanted to win.

Vikas Malhotra and Peter Goodchap from Queens Cricket Club. Picture: Brett Amos.

“He was always a very aggressive cricketer, in a positive way, he was always looking at wanting to win, he was always going hard,” Goodchap said.

“He didn’t have a defensive bone in his body when it came to cricket, whether it was field settings or bowling or batting, he was very aggressive and competitive and unorthodox in a lot of ways.

“You never knew what you were going to get from Vik but it was always entertaining. He could get down on one knee and slog sweep the first ball he faced for six, you just never knew.

“He set some unorthodox fields where you think why the heck have you set the field that way, then he’d get a wicket from it.

“A great mate on the field and great mate on the field as well … he was always at the club after the game and during the week doing his bit.

“Fantastic bloke and loved every part of being his mate and teammate.”