We will all miss Keki Kotwal terribly - Sachin Tendulkar pays tribute to CCI stalwart

FILE PHOTO: Keki Kotwal

A representative of Cricket Club of India (CCI), Keki Kotwal passed away on Monday morning. The loss comes as a big blow to CCI. The 75-year-old Keki had served as CCI’s secretary for 25 odd years.

Keki managed the Indian cricket team for the ICC knockout tournament that was played in 2000. Many CCI players offered their condolences. “Great guy, RIP,” wrote Salil Ankola in Mid-day. Other players such as Jatin Paranjape wrote, “RIP Keki – forever a gentleman.”

“We will miss Keki Kotwal as much as the Lord’s Cricket Ground. Wonderful man. RIP Keka.” wrote Shishir Hattangadi, a former Mumbai captain.

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar also payed tribute to the late Kotwal. In his tribute written to mid-day, he wrote “He was so friendly with me and ever so supportive. He encouraged me a lot in my early years with CCI. We all will miss him terribly.”

Apart from Tendulkar, Chandu Patankar, a former Indian wicket-keeper also expressed his sadness at the loss by saying, “Keki used to do his job earnestly and would be most nervous at the start of a game. He would watch the action alone from one corner of the clubhouse on the second floor and would feel at ease only after watching the bounce.”

Keki’s superstitious side was highlighted by Kenkre, “We were playing a fair weather tournament and had lost early wickets. Sandeep Patil was batting with someone and was performing a rescue act. Keki kept standing and watching from just behind the sightscreen for a couple of hours until play ended.”