Kiran Ashar, the former Mumbai wicketkeeper-batsman passed away on Saturday in a city hospital, less than a month short of his 70th birthday due to health complications
Kiran Ashar
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Kiran Ashar, the former Mumbai wicketkeeper-batsman passed away on Saturday in a city hospital, less than a month short of his 70th birthday due to health complications. Ashar's exploits in inter-school cricket was Bradmanesque or like one report on his amazing run of scores in 1964-65 put it, it was Everton Weekes-like because, like the great West Indian in 1948, Ashar scored five consecutive centuries in the Harris Shield inter-school tournament. Yet, Ashar could figure in only five first-class games for Mumbai.
Debut at 21
At 21, he made his debut in the Irani Cup against Rest of India in 1968. He had to retire hurt after being hit on the groin while 'keeping to Padmakar Shivalkar. Vijay Bhosale, his Associated Cement Companies (ACC) teammate, had to take over the big gloves. Ashar didn't get another game for eight years.
In his comeback innings - in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu in March 1977 - he scored 86 and put on 199 for the opening wicket with skipper Sunil Gavaskar.
His 'keeping was praised by pundits in that game as well as in the final against Delhi at the Kotla. He fell out of favour after two games in the next season. Ashar played in formidable ACC and Nirlon teams.
Mankad's prodigy
A product of Bharda school, Ashar was coached by cricket legend Vinoo Mankad at the LR Tairsee nets. He was also part of the Indian Schoolboys team to Sri Lanka in 1963-64. In 1987-88, he took up coaching and guided the Mumbai U-16 team in 1994.
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