Name: Syed Kirmani
Brand: StarClinch
SKU: 262607
Rating: 4.1 (48 reviews)

Syed Kirmani is a former Indian Cricketer widely known as one of the finest wicketkeepers India has ever produced. His contribution with both bat and glove was significant in taking India to many historic wins during the 1970s and 1980s.He saw the transition phase from the spin quartet to the rise of the Indian pace battery led by Kapil Dev. He was equally good in both generations with his top-notch keeping skills.There was a lot of discouragement from his parents to opt for sports as his career. They wanted him to earn a degree and do a government job.During 1965-66, an Australian school side was touring India, where Kirmani also played. He played three tests and scored 121 in Chennai, 132 in Hyderabad, and 75 in Bombay (now Mumbai). He became the vice-captain of the Indian school during their tour to Australia. It was the first instance in Indian cricket that an Indian school went abroad to play cricket.He got his first call as the reserved wicketkeeper for India during its tour to England in 1971 under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar when Farookh Engineer was busy with Lancashire duty. However, he didnt get the chance in playing eleven during that series. He had to wait for five years before getting his first test cap. Syed Kirmani in his debut test series against England.He succeeded flamboyant Farookh Engineer as a wicketkeeper in 1976 and made a mark in his second innings itself by dismissing six batsmen behind the stumps, which was a record at that time. He held on to the catches of New Zealands skipper Glenn Turner, Richard Hadlee, and Richard Collinge of the bowling of Mohinder Amarnath, their wicket-keeper Ken Wadsworth, and Dayle Hadlee of the bowling of Madan Lal. He ended that series with 305 runs at an impressive average of 65.33. He also stumped Bevan Congdon off the bowling of Bishen Singh Bedi.Later in 1978, his form dipped a bit, and he was left out of the squad during the 1979 World Cup to be held in England. He was replaced by Bharath Reddy and Surinder Khanna. However, they didnt perform well in that World Cup. Sunil Gavaskar was also sacked as the captain of India. Their omission rose to many critics. There were rumors that they both are loomed by the organizers of Kerry Packers World Series Cricket. In an interview, he revealed that Gundappa Vishwanath was the person who came to him with rolling tears and told him that you are not in a team.But he took it in a positive way and worked hard on his fitness and wicketkeeping skills. As time went by, Kirmani grew in concentration and fitness with quick keeping reflexes.He made a splendid comeback against Australia in the same year and scored unbeaten 101 runs coming as a night watchman that lasted for almost a day and became the third batsman after Nasim-ul-Ghani in 1962 and Anthony Lungford Mann in 1977-78 to score a century in that position. Syed Kirmani as a night watchman vs Australia.He continued his form during the Australia tour wherein the third test, chasing a target of 143, Australia dipped in between when Kirmani removed Graeme Wood stumped. That stumping by Kirmani impressed Richie Benaud so much that during his commentary, he said This is the best leg-side stumping, I have seen in my life!.

Syed Kirmani

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