Salim Durani, the former Indian cricketer, passed away on Sunday morning at his Jamnagar residence due to age-related ailments. He was 88 years old. Durani played 29 Tests for India and had a total of 75 wickets, with his best bowling figures being 10 for 177. As an all-rounder, he scored 1202 runs with the highest score of 104 against West Indies.
Durani is most famously remembered for his exceptional performance in India’s series victory against England in 1961-62. He took eight and ten wickets in the Kolkata and Chennai Tests, respectively, leading India to a 2-0 series win. Born to Afghan parents with a Pathani lineage, Durani impressed fans from the outset of his first Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat, bowling with great cunning.
Durani was dropped from the team for four seasons from 1967 to 1970 but was later recalled for the 1971 tour of the West Indies, where he played a crucial role in India’s historic first series win there. He proved instrumental in India’s win in the Port of Spain Test, dismissing left-handers Garry Sobers and Clive Lloyd.
Aside from his cricketing exploits, Durani also ventured into Bollywood, starring opposite renowned actor Praveen Babi in the movie Charitra in 1973.
Durani made his Test debut against Australia at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium in 1960 and played his last international match against England in February 1973, where he had started his international career. In first-class cricket, Durani scored 8,545 runs at an average of 33.37 and hit 14 centuries.
Durani was a joy to watch when in full flow, with the ability to demolish any bowling attack on his day, though he had first made his mark for the Indian team as a bowler. He was India’s first Arjuna Award winner in cricket and had a special relationship with the crowd, who once expressed their dissatisfaction when he was dropped from the team for a match in Kanpur, carrying banners and placards that read ‘No Durani, no test!’.
In domestic cricket, Durani played Ranji Trophy matches for Saurashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The Chenab Times News Desk