Former Mumbai cricketer Kiran Asher passes away

Former Mumbai cricketer Kiran Asher, who played for the then Bombay side, passed away on Saturday, May 27 in Mumbai. Kiran Pratapsinh Asher was born on June 19, 1947, shortly before India got its independence from the British.

Born in Mumbai, Asher played for Bombay as a wicket-keeper batsman. Kiran Asher also plied his skills for West Zone. Most notably, he opened the batting with India’s legend, the one and only Sunil Gavaskar in the Ranji Trophy final against Delhi in the 1976/77 season. The eventful game was played in Delhi, and it was Bombay who ended up on the winning side.

Kiran Asher in the Ranji final of 1976/77

As for Asher, he did not have such a memorable final with the bat as he scored 11 in the first innings and followed it up with 3 in the second. Mohinder Amarnath was involved in both dismissals – in the first innings, Asher was caught by Amarnath off Madan Lal, while Amarnath trapped Asher in front of the stumps in the second innings.

Kiran Asher also pouched three catches behind the stumps during the victorious final. In the first innings, he caught Chetan Chauhan, who was beginning to look dangerous with his 32. He also had his revenge on Madan Lal, who was caught behind off Karsan Ghavri.

In a career which spanned from the year 1968 to 1978, Kiran Asher played 7 first-class matches and scored a total of 305 runs. He had the highest score of 105 at the first-class level and averaged a healthy 38.25. Asher also had 10 catches and 4 stumpings against his name.

The former right-handed batsman was aged 69 when he passed away in Mumbai, at the Jaslok hospital, sources say.

He made his debut for Bombay in an Irani Cup match against the Rest of India at Cricket Club of India (which is better known as the Brabourne Stadium today) in the 1968/69 season.