Abey Kuruvilla

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Abey Kuruvilla Biography

The entire international career of Abey Kuruvilla fitted in the same calendar year, 1997, after an injured rotator calf muscle kept Javagal Srinath out of action. He had 25 wickets in each format.

At 6’6” Kuruvilla was one of the tallest cricketers India have produced. He also had broad shoulders and muscular arms. Unfortunately, he was at best fast-medium, and his strength lay in swing and accuracy, not pace. He averaged in the mid-30s in both formats, in stark contrast with his 290 First-Class wickets that came at 27.

Kuruvilla was picked out of nowhere for his Ranji Trophy debut — in the iconic 1990-91 final. His experience consisted of a few balls bowled in a university trial. He picked up 4 for 128 on a flat track against Haryana. Unfortunately, he was the unfortunate No. 11 who was run out, leaving a desolate Dilip Vengsarkar in tears as Haryana triumphed by 2 runs.

Kuruvilla did not look back, taking wickets on a consistent basis in domestic cricket. Against the touring West Indians of 1994-95 he took 5 for 42. And when India visited West Indies in 1997, Kuruvilla was picked as third seamer. Once Srinath was ruled out, he shared new ball with Venkatesh Prasad on Test debut, dismissed Brian Lara, Carl Hooper, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. In the third Test at Barbados he got 5 for 68. He also took 3 for 23 in the Port-of-Spain ODI.

Unfortunately, being thrashed around by Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva on the flattest of subcontinent pitches later that year did not help his cause. However, he was the spearhead of the Indian attack in the victorious Sahara Cup campaign.

He was dropped shortly afterwards, despite the fact that Anil Kumble (61 wickets at 41) was the only Indian to have taken more wickets than Kuruvilla (50 at 36) in 1997.

A big hitter of the cricket ball, Kuruvilla smashed holds the curious world record of hitting most sixes (4) in Test cricket for men who have not hit a four.

He called it quits after being part of a victorious Mumbai team of the 1999-00 Ranji Trophy. He was 31.

He later took to coaching, was appointed head of All-India Junior Selection Committee as well as Chief Selector of Mumbai.

Abhishek Mukherjee