For many, Vithal ‘Marshall’ Patil was a coach and mentor. But for Podar College cricketers he was an institution. Patil, the former Mumbai swing bowler and selector, whi coached the Matunga college team for 47 years, passed away on Tuesday evening.

His pupils which included the likes of Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri and Sanjay Manjrekar attended his funeral yesterday at Shivaji Park crematorium where former Podar batsman Jitendra Thakre (above left) handed their college cap to captain Shastri to be placed on Patil’s body. The emotion of it all was palpable.