Former Indian all-rounder Salim Durani passes away at 88

One of India’s most colourful cricketers, Salim Durani passed away at the age of 88. According to PTI, the all-rounder was living with his brother Jahangir Durani in Jamnagar, Gujarat. 

The all-rounder had undergone proximal femoral nail surgery, after breaking his thigh bone in a fall earlier in the year, in January. One of India’s well-decorated cricketers, Durani was an aggressive left-handed batter and a left-arm spinner by trade, with 1202 runs and 75 wickets in his fabled career. In that era where Indian cricketers were more calm and stoic, Durani brought about a big change in the dressing room with his dash and vigorous play. 

Durani is well remembered and revered for his stunning spell against the mighty West Indies way back in 1971, where he removed both Clive Lloyd and Garry Sobers - in the space of few deliveries in India’s first Test win in West Indies. Durani bowled miserly, conceding just 21 runs in his 17 overs. Back in 1973, when he was dropped for a Test against England in Kanpur, his fans were irked by the decision, with a placard of 'No Durani, No Test'. 

The left-arm spinner was also instrumental in India’s Test win over England, back in 1961-62, where he took eight wickets and ten wickets against the Three Lions in Kolkata and Chennai (then Madras).

*More to follow*