Salim Aziz Durani was an Indian international cricketer known for his flamboyant batting and useful left-arm spin bowling. Popularly called the "Prince" by his admirers, he played 29 Test matches for India between 1960 and 1973 and remains one of the most romantic figures in Indian cricket history, celebrated for his ability to hit sixes on demand from the crowd.
Key Facts
| Full name | Salim Aziz Durani |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1933, Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Died | 2 April 2023, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India |
| Batting | Left-handed |
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| Test debut | 1960, against Australia at Brabourne Stadium, Bombay |
| Last Test | 1973, against England |
| Test matches | 29 |
| Domestic teams | Saurashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan |
| Major honour | Arjuna Award (1961); first recipient of the Arjuna Award in cricket |
Background and Early Life
Salim Durani was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, to Aziz Durani, himself a wicketkeeper-batsman who played first-class cricket in undivided India. The family migrated to India, and Salim grew up in Jamnagar, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, which then had a strong cricketing tradition shaped by the patronage of the princely state of Nawanagar. He learnt his cricket in Saurashtra before moving on to play in domestic competition for Saurashtra, Gujarat and later Rajasthan.
Domestic Career
Durani had a long Ranji Trophy career stretching across more than two decades. He represented Saurashtra in his early years, then turned out for Gujarat, and finally for Rajasthan, with whom he featured in several Ranji Trophy finals during the 1960s. His all-round contribution with bat and slow left-arm spin made him a key figure in the Rajasthan side that consistently challenged for the domestic title.
International Career
Durani made his Test debut in the 1960–61 home series against Australia. He played a central role in India's historic series victory against England in 1961–62, where his left-arm spin contributed crucial wickets in the wins at Calcutta and Madras.
His most celebrated bowling performance came in the 1971 Test against the West Indies at Port of Spain, Trinidad, when he dismissed Clive Lloyd and Garfield Sobers in quick succession during India's famous first-ever Test win against the West Indies, in a series India eventually won under Ajit Wadekar's captaincy.
As a batsman, Durani was admired for his clean hitting and stroke play, with an attacking left-handed style. Crowds frequently called for sixes, and he often delivered, a habit that gave rise to the slogan "No Durani, No Test" when he was once dropped from the team, leading to spectator protests.
He scored one Test century, against the West Indies at Port of Spain in 1962. He played his last Test in the 1972–73 home series against England.
Playing Style
Durani was a tall, elegant left-handed batsman with a strong bottom-hand grip that enabled him to clear the ground with apparent ease. His slow left-arm orthodox bowling featured a smooth action and the ability to bowl long, accurate spells, and he was particularly effective on turning Indian pitches. He was considered one of the finest all-rounders India produced before the rise of Kapil Dev.
Film Appearance
Durani's good looks and popular image led to a brief Hindi film career. He starred opposite Parveen Babi in the 1973 film Charitra, produced by B. R. Ishara, making him one of the few Indian Test cricketers to have featured as a lead actor in a Bollywood film.
Honours and Recognition
- Recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1961, becoming the first cricketer to be honoured with the award.
- Conferred the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2011.
Later Life and Death
After retirement, Durani lived a relatively quiet life, mostly in Jamnagar, and remained associated with cricket through occasional commentary and appearances. He suffered from health issues in his later years, including a leg injury that required surgery. He died on 2 April 2023 in Jamnagar at the age of 89.
Significance
Salim Durani occupies a distinctive place in Indian cricket as a player who combined match-winning ability with showmanship. He is remembered as the only Test cricketer born in Afghanistan to have represented India, and as a romantic figure whose career symbolised the charm of an earlier era of Indian cricket. His ability to hit sixes on crowd request, in a period when the six was a rarer stroke, made him a folk hero among Indian fans.