Nari Contractor’s titanium plate now a vital piece of memorabilia

Nari Contractor at the Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai

The titanium plate that was inserted in Nari Contractor's head 60 years ago following his skull injury during the 1961-62 tour of the West Indies, was removed at the Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday.

According to the former India cricket captain's son Hoshedar, the operation went well and his stable father should be discharged in a few days. Contractor, 88, needed several stitches after the plate was removed.

Meanwhile, the plate now becomes a vital piece of memorabilia because it prevented any further damage when Contractor resumed his cricketing activities on the advice of Dr Chandy. The neurosurgeon inserted the plate during an operation at Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, a few weeks after Barbados fast bowler Charlie Griffith felled Contractor in a tour game against the Contractor-led Indian team at Bridgetown.

Dr Chandy insisted on Contractor returning to cricket in the fear of him being in a vegetative state. The left-handed batsman started off by batting at the Cricket Club of India under a solar hat. He regained strength and confidence to return to the first-class scene the following season.