Kapil Dev: He was a great entertainer. His  technique   was   not
something great to talk about but he was a entertainer. In crick-
et, we do need people like Srikkanth to get  the  crowds to   the
ground.  It  is very important for the game. That was his biggest
contribution. Even people who didn't know the game well, came  to
enjoy   it  because  of cricketers like Srikkanth.  His technique
was unique. I have never bowled to a batsman like Srikkanth.   He
was so different from others. He was one batsman who could defend
the ball and when he wanted, blast an identical  ball.   He   hit
the  bowlers  all  over the place. He had a tremendous eye. Maybe
with a  little  more  determination  and  application,  Srikkanth
would  have had a longer career.
His achievements were tremendous both in five-day   and   one-day
cricket. He led India which was no mean achievement. He did quite
well as a captain on the Pakistan tour and I think he didn't  get
a fair deal. He didn't get many runs but his approach towards the
team was tremendous. He was always ready to do anything  for  his
colleagues,  going out of the way to help them. He made sure that
everybody was happy. That was Srikkanth's greatest quality - car-
ing for others. It's a pity he could not remain long as captain.
His batting was a joy. I remember he would  say  in   the   early
part  of  his  career  that he would be happy to get 1000 runs in
Tests and maybe one hundred. But his greed grew with every  match
and  that  is  what I appreciated most in him. His fans will miss
Srikkanth. So would I. I didn't admire his technique but certain-
ly did admire the manner in which he would hammer the bowlers. He
was a carefree person in the beginning but over  the  years   his
personality  changed.  He was one person who kept pace with time.
He has quit the game but I hope he is a happy man - happy at  his
career and what he gave to the game by way of his batting.
Srikkanth was unique. No comparison witb anyone. I  was   greatly
impressed  by  his  positive approach, always wanting to dominate
the bowlers. I am sure many bowlers would be happy  he quit.   He
could  really murder you on his day. I don't have to describe his
strokes. Only Srikkanth could play them. Most of his  runs   came
off  good  balls, against the best of the bowlers. He was not the
one to wait for the loose balls. He would create them. His  repu-
tation  to  "kill" the bowling grew with time. It was very diffi-
cult to bowl to him once he found his  rhythm.  He  had  all  the
shots  and would never hesitate to play them. The most impressive
feature of his character was his willingness to help  others. You
could  always  approach him with your problems. He had this knack
of handling difficult situations, as he proved  on  the  tour  to
Pakistan when he was the captain.
I had tremendous regard for Srikkanth as a cricketer and   as   a
human  being.  Not Only I, but the cricketing world will miss his
batting exploits and jolly nature.
(Sportstar October 30, 1993)
 

Contributed by Kannan (cs584kxm@*iit.edu).My thanks to kannan.

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