The passing away of Hemant Kanitkar, one of Maharashtra's cricket heroes, came as a shock. Having played club and first-class cricket with him, he was not only a senior well wisher, but also a mentor to me. Hemant was a selfless cricketer, always ready to support and spend hours in helping anyone seeking his guidance. To all of us youngsters in our formative years, he was a pillar of strength and the person we turned to for advice.

Also Read: Former Test cricketer Hemant Kanitkar passes away


Hemant Kanitkar reads a newspaper during a break in a domestic game. Pics/mid-day archives