He came as assistant manager for quite a number of our tours. He was very encouraging. His favourite term from where we all learnt from was, 'chhodo matt' [hang in there].

He was gritty despite playing in the days when gloves and thigh pads were not very good, not much protective equipment as you would get hit, but still hang in there as he believed in choddo matt. You are playing for India. That thing we learnt from him.

Every time he was on a tour he was very, very helpful in terms of strategy. At lunch time or tea time, he would say, try this if you were a fielding captain. He would say, bring this bowler, or ask this bowler to bowl round the wicket. He was fantastic. Indian cricket has lost a real champion. He was probably the main guy instrumental in having Sandeep Patil come back after a blow on his head [in Sydney 1981].