Syed Kirmani

Batsman, bowler, wicket keeper, lifetime achievement award winner and the man who replaced Farokh Engineer as wicket-keeper, Syed Kirmani has always comfortably fit into every role that he has taken up. Born, Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani, in Chennai, on the 29th of December, 1949, Syed Kirmani is a right hand batsman who played for India, Karnataka, Mysore and the Railways.

The 66-year-old legend began his career in the year 1971 as an understudy to Farokh Engineer. His debut was made in the year 1976 when he played against New Zealand. In the series against Australia, Syed scored his first hundred, and his second hundred was made the next year and it was in Bombay again. In the 1983 Cricket World Cup, he won the award for the best wicket keeper.

Popularly referred to as ‘Kiri,’ he was part of the winning squad in the 1983 World Cup. Kirmani’s 12-year role as wicketkeeper ended with a flourish in the year 1986 when he played against Australia. He also played for Railways in domestic cricket. He took over as vice-president of KSCA and was the chairman of the national selection committee for a while during the early 2000’s. He has acted in a Hindi film, Kabhi Ajnabi The, where he played the role of an underworld Don. He also made a cameo appearance in a Malayalam movie titled Mazhavillinattam Vare where he plays himself.

Kirmani was awarded the Padma Shri in 1982 for his contribution to Indian Cricket. His philanthropic efforts are one that needs no mention. Before being felicitated with the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, which is a very prestigious award, for his contribution to Indian cricket, at BCCI Annual awards 2014 -2015, he vowed to donate 25 percent of the prize money, which amounts to 6.25 lakhs to charity. The BCCI president, Shashank Manohar, at the Cricket Board’s annual awards (2014-15 season) ceremony, presented the award last year to other big names such as Virat Kohli alongside Syed Kirmani.