Pochiah Krishnamurthy

Pochiah Krishnamurthy Biography

Pochiah Krishnamurthy played all 5 Tests for India on the West Indies tour of 1971, but never before or after that. He kept wickets tidily with 7 catches and a stumping, but scored only 33 runs. His batting prowess, or lack thereof, led to him being replaced by Farokh Engineer shortly afterwards.

Tall for Indian wicketkeepers, Krishnamurthy squatted low behind the stumps. He loved standing up to the stumps to pacers. However, playing for Hyderabad also meant that he did not get opportunities to keep wickets to world-class spinners; as a result he lost out to Syed Kirmani even after Engineer’s retirement.

He never found rhythm with bat either, which did not help his cause. In domestic cricket his 1,558 runs came at a mere 15, though he was sometimes sent at the top. He also had 150 catches and 68 stumpings to his name.

Krishnamurthy’s best season was 1970-71, when he averaged 28 with bat and effected 18 dismissals. With Engineer pulling out of the West Indies tour, he and Rusi Jeejeebhoy were selected as the two glovemen. He went to England, but played only the tour matches, and remained on the fringes throughout the decade.

Against Karnataka in 1973-74, Krishnamurthy scored 28 batting at No. 11, adding 105 with Abid Ali. He was also a part of several century partnerships for the first wicket, thus being one of those rare men who have had hundred-run-stands both as opener and as No. 11.

He was selected for the twin tours of New Zealand and West Indies. He played his only ODI at Auckland, scoring 6 and taking 2 catches.

He played domestic cricket till 1978-79, quitting only when the next generation of wicketkeepers arrived to challenge Kirmani.

He worked at State Bank of India, and worked as a selector, and later Chairman, of Hyderabad Cricket Association.

He was only 51 when he passed away in 1999.

Abhishek Mukherjee

Pochiah Krishnamurthy Batting & Fielding Averages

Career

Avg

100s

50s

Test

ODIs

T20s

World Cup

Pochiah Krishnamurthy Bowling Averages

Career	M	B	R	W	Avg	EC	SR	5WI	10WM	BBI	BBM
Test	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
ODIs	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
T20s	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
World Cup	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--		--