The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Hanumant passes away

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 30, 2006
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Hanumant passes away

Special Correspondent

Mumbai: Hanumant Singh, alias `Chotu', is no more. Hanumant, born on March 29, 1939 at Banswara, Rajasthan, lost life's battle to complications caused by liver infection and dengue on Wednesday.

Doctors attending on him said Hanumant, Rajasthan cricket's backbone from the mid 50s to late 70s and a distinguished Test cricketer, breathed his last around 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to his daughter-in-law, Tineka.

Hanumant Singh played 14 Tests, scored 686 runs with a 105 on debut against England at the Kotla, Delhi in 1964. He also played 207 first class matches, scored 12,338 runs and took 56 wickets.

Perfect gentleman

He was the ICC Match Referee in nine Test matches, 54 ODIs and also in four matches of the Commonwealth Games in 1998-99.

One of his long-time friends, Vasu Paranjape described Hanumant Singh "a perfect gentleman."

Paranjape, who has been a part of the famous Bombay-Rajasthan rivalry in Ranji Trophy finals in the 1960s, said: "we spent four and a half months in Bangalore when the BCCI instituted the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He had his own way of coaching and I had my own way. But it was not difficult to get along with him once you were honest to yourself and to him. He was stern and a stickler for rules.''

Great gesture

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar said he was deeply touched by Hanumant's act of generosity when they were employed with the State Bank of India.

"Chotu was senior to me at SBI and the management wanted him to lead. But he showed a big heart saying that since I was already Bombay's captain and had a bright chance of leading India, I should be named the captain of the SBI team."

Salim Durani, Hanumant's teammate for 16 years said: "He was a supreme cricketer. He was probably the best batsman in India and even Richie Benaud thought so. He was a dangerous bowler, but he rarely bowled his leg-spinners. I was lucky to play under him. He set the field for me. He was also a kind-hearted man and believed in discipline. He was the Prince among friends. I have no words to express my sadness.''

The chairman of the National selection committee, Dilip Vengsarkar said "He was honest, sincere and passionate about cricket. I did not have the privilege of seeing him bat in his prime. He was a soft-spoken and a wonderful human being.''

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport