Former cricketer Anil Gurav, a talent gone astray passes away
Gurav was a few years senior to legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli at the Shardashram Vidyamandir
His friends used to fondly call him "Vivian Richards of Mumbai" for the way he used to bat but Anil Gurav, one of Dronacharya Award winning coach late Ramakant Achrekar's earlier disciples, could never make the grade due to choices that he made and lived on to regret.
Gurav, who is said to have been one of Acherkar's best students but never made it to the Mumbai side beyond playing club-level cricket, passed away here on Tuesday at his residence in Nalasopara.
Gurav was a few years senior to legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli at the Shardashram Vidyamandir, and it is said that coach Achrekar would even take the two batters who went on to play for India to watch their senior at the nets.
"Achrekar sir used to make Sachin and others watch him in the nets. He was a player that one could learn from," recalled Nadim Memon, a veteran Mumbai curator and councillor in the Mumbai Cricket Association.
"He was among Achrekar sir's favourite boys," he added.
Despite his talent, Gurav could never make it to the senior level. He played in the U-16 and U-19 levels, while also represented Acherkar's Sassanian Cricket Club and Kamath Memorial.
"His friends used to call him 'Vivian Richards of Mumbai' not only because he had a square cut which looked similar but he was equally good on the leg-side," Memon said.
Gurav is also believed to have given his bat to Tendulkar during their school days with which the latter scored his first century in competitive cricket.
It is said that Gurav's brother Ajit was involved in illicit activities which led to a lot of trouble being faced by the family from the police. While his career never took off, Gurav also took up the habit of drinking and drifted away from the game.
