Debonair Salim Durani Passes Away At 88; India’s First Arjuna Award Winning Cricketer Who Dabbled In Bollywood

Bhubaneswar: Describing him as an institution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mourned the death of cricketing legend Salim Durani, who passed away at his house in Jamnagar, Gujarat, at the age of 88.

“Salim Durani Ji was a cricketing legend, an institution in himself. He made a key contribution to India’s rise in the world of cricket. On and off the field, he was known for his style. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace,” the PM tweeted.

“Salim Durani Ji had a very old and strong association with Gujarat. He played for Saurashtra and Gujarat for a few years. He also made Gujarat his home. I have had the opportunity to interact with him and was deeply impressed by his multifaceted persona. He will surely be missed,” he added.

Paying his last respects to the legend, Former cricketer VVS Laxman wrote: “India’s first Arjuna Award winning cricketer and a man who hit sixes on public demand, Salim Durani.” Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri described him as one of the most colorful cricketers of India.

The Kabul-born cricketer was renowned for his slow left-arm orthodox and hitting skill as a batter.

Durani would be remembered for his outstanding performance in the series victory against England in 1961-62, when he picked up eight and 10 wickets in Kolkata and Chennai. He also played a key role in India’s victory against the West Indies in Port of Spain where he dismissed both Clive Lloyd and Sir Garfield Sobers. He had 75 wickets in total in his kitty. He scored just one century though he had seven fifties in the 29 tests he played, scoring 1,202 runs.

Known for his swag and fine dressing sense, the star cricketer also tried his luck in Bollywood, starring opposite Praveen Babi in 1973 film, Charitra.