To say that the BCCI CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award is a deserving honour for Syed Kirmani is to state the obvious. As arguably India's finest wicket keeper as different from wicketkeeper-batsman for which he would be pipped to the post by MS Dhoni, Kirmani has been a nationally known figure for nearly half a century. From the time he first displayed his talent as a member of the Indian schoolboys team that toured England in 1967 to today when he is regarded with respect and admiration as an elder statesman of Indian cricket, Kirmani has had an eventful career making sure that the fortunes of the Indian team during the time he donned the gloves from 1976 to 1986 had more ups than downs. And one of the key figures who shaped its destiny during the decade was Kirmani as the undisputed gloveman No 1.


Syed Kirmani in his playing days. Pic/Getty Images

Kirmani's work behind the stumps was brilliant enough to attract the attention of Kerry Packer's agents who were keen to sign him up for World Series Cricket. There was never any chance of Kirmani taking the bait, for the late 70s were very different days from the cricketing world of today. It was just as well for one could not imagine the Indian team in those days without the energetic and dynamic presence of Kirmani.