Madhav Mantri dies aged 92

NEI India Via ESPN Cricinfo

Amol Karhadkar

May 23, 2014

	Madhav Mantri was part of the team when India toured England in 1952 © MiD DAY Infomedia Ltd
Related Links Players/Officials: M.K.Mantri Teams: India

Madhav Mantri, the former India wicketkeeper, has died following a heart attack at a private clinic in Mumbai on Friday. He was 92.

Mantri played four Tests for India in the 1950s, and though he couldn't quite establish himself in the national team, he was a consistent performer for a dominant Bombay side on the domestic circuit. He captained Bombay to three Ranji titles, and scored 2976 runs at an average of 53.14, besides taking 69 catches and 23 stumpings.

He was admitted to hospital on May 1 after suffering a mild heart attack, and died after another heart attack early on Friday morning.

Mantri, who was Sunil Gavaskar's uncle, was a national selector from 1964 to 1968 and the Mumbai Cricket Association president from 1988 to 1992. He was also manager of the Indian team on the England tour of 1990, and served as BCCI treasurer between 1990 and 1992.

The BCCI called Mantri's demise a big loss to Indian cricket. "Indian cricket will be indebted to him," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said. "Several cricketers, from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar, had the privilege of being guided by him in their formative years."

Terming Mantri's death a "personal loss", former India captain Ajit Wadekar said that he might never have played for India but for Mantri. "During the selection committee meeting for India's tour to West Indies (in 1966), it was Mantri who proposed my name when the last batsman's slot was being discussed," Wadekar recalled. "But neither the selectors nor the captain, Tiger Pataudi, were convinced. It was he who continued to fight for me and since there was no consensus, the selectors broke for lunch.

"During the lunch break, he took Pataudi aside and convinced him, saying I was a consistent performer for Mumbai for almost a decade and deserved a chance. Immediately after the resumption of the meeting, Pataudi told the selectors 'I would like to go for Ajit Wadekar'. Only because he (Mantri) persisted, could I play for India."

Bapu Nadkarni, the former India left-arm spinner, said Mantri was a major influence on his cricketing career. "All the cricketing rituals that have been performed on me were by Madhav Mantri and Polly Umrigar. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to play with both of them," Nadkarni said.

"Mantri was a self-disciplined person, both on and off the field. And he didn't like his disciplined life to be disturbed at all. During the playing days, he had set a few rules for the whole team to parade with him at a particular time. And no one could dare not to say no to him, or skip the parade even for a single day."

Mantri often said self-discipline was a secret for his health. He was so fit that even at 92, he climbed almost 30 steps to the Wankhede Stadium dressing room to congratulate Maharashtra minutes after their victory over Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal in January.

"It was a memorable moment for all of us," Surendra Bhave, the Maharashtra coach, said. "For him to come all the way to the dressing room and congratulate us was a big boost for each member of the unit. He told the boys, 'You have beaten your arch-rivals, now don't stop till you win the final'. Though the team fell just one step short, everyone in the room will remember Mantri's zest and his words of advice all our lives."

 

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