Former India all-rounder Karsan Ghavri turned 73 today. Ghavri was an Indian fast bowler in an era when this role did not have too many buyers in his country. The Rajkot-born player served Indian cricket with his multidimensional game as he was not just an effective bowler but also a handy batter.
The left-arm fast medium bowler made his debut in international cricket in 1974/75 in a Test match against West Indies at the Eden Gardens. Before stepping into international cricket, Karsan Ghavri toiled hard in first-class cricket, and he deservedly got the reward for his hard work. A few months later, the all-rounder got the opportunity to represent India in limited-overs cricket as well. He played his maiden One-Day International match in June 1975 against England at Lord’s. Not many get the opportunity to make their debut at iconic venues like Eden Gardens and Lord’s, but Ghavri had this honor written in his destiny.
A Workhorse
Karsan Ghavri was one of those cricketers who had limited skills, but using those skills in the most effective way was never an issue for him. Ghavri was very effective with his medium-fast bowling and lower-order batting contributions. The Saurashtra player represented India in 39 Test matches and 19 ODIs. The longest format of the game suited him the most as he had more success in Test cricket. Ghavri picked up 109 wickets in Tests at an average of 33.54. He also amassed 913 runs with the bat at an average of 21.23, which is not bad for someone who batted in the lower order.
However, the limited-overs adventure did not reap rewards for him as he could only take 15 wickets in 19 ODIs. The Indian veteran had played 159 first-class matches by the time he hung up his boots. Karsan Ghavri may not be one of the most talked-about names in Indian cricket, but surely his contribution cannot be forgotten.
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