MUMBAI: Bharat Kunderan, the younger brother of former Test wicketkeeper Buddhi Kunderan, passed away on Monday. Kunderan was found dead in his home in Andheri. He was 75.
A former wicketkeeper/batsman, Kunderan represented Bharda New High School, Elphinstone College, Bombay University, Khar Gymkhana and Bank of India in local cricket.
According to the old-timers, the quartet of Hemant Shah, Rahul Mankand, Vijay Mohan Raj and Bharat Kunderan represented the Elphinstone College and Bombay University team in the Rohington Baria Trophy and the Vizzy Trophy.
He toured Australia with the Indian Schools team in Australia in 1968-69, which was captained by Raja Mukherjee and included Mohinder Amarnath, Brijesh Patel and Karsan Ghavri. Col Hemu Adhikari was the coach-cum-manager of that side.
Post retirement, Kunderan was coaching kids at the Chandrakant Pandit Cricket Clinic (CPCC) in Andheri.
Paying rich tribute to Kunderan, former India wicketkeeper and Kolkata Knight Riders and Madhya Pradesh head coach Chandrakant Pandit told TOI, "It's a sad news. He was our most senior coach. He was passionate and committed about coaching kids, and imparted his vast cricketing experience to them. He had his thoughts on how to develop young cricketers, especially for Mumbai. He did a fantastic job as a coach at our academy. I remember that when he came to me, he just told me that he wanted to spend time at the ground with the kids and encourage them."
"I played many times against him in local cricket, when he was playing for the Khar Gymkhana. He was a 'utility cricketer.' We always respected each other. He was a part of the CPCC veterans' team too," Pandit added.
"He was a stylish player, a handsome man with curly hair," said an old-timer.
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