When slogans of ‘No Mushtaq No Test’ were raised, people got angry when he/she was not included in the team, such was the charisma of the stylish batsman

If there is no Mushtaq then there will be no Test: Syed Mushtaq Ali was such a batsman that if he/she had been playing even in today’s era, he/she would have been counted among the explosive players. he/she was a ruthless batsman of his/her era. he/she used to thrash bowlers mercilessly in test matches. Apart from being a good player, Mushtaq Ali’s personality had many facets. he/she was not only the former captain of Holkar’s army but was also a fearless, stylish, colourful, popular and sociable person. A large part of the cricket folklore in the country is his/her name.

his/her popularity was such that once the Indian team had to play an unofficial test with the Australian Army at Eden Gardens in Calcutta (now Kolkata). But Mushtaq Ali was not included in the team announced for this match. A crowd of cricket lovers in Calcutta surrounded Dalip Singh ji, who was the chief of the selection committee at that time, and shouted slogans of ‘No Mushtaq, No Test’. After the crowd’s protest, Mushtaq Ali was reinstated in the team.

First century on foreign soil
Although Mushtaq Ali was the opening batsman of the Indian team, he/she started his/her career as a left-arm slow bowler. But soon he/she established himself as a strong batsman. Right-handed batsman Mushtaq Ali always maintained a sense of adventure during his/her batting. he/she is always remembered for his/her brilliant innings of 112 runs in just two and a half hours against England at Old Trafford Ground on 25 July 1936. This was the first century by an Indian batsman abroad. During this, he/she had a brilliant partnership of 203 runs with Vijay Merchant. When Mushtaq Ali used to hit his/her shot, his/her opening partner Merchant would often shake his/her head in disbelief. Because he/she used to move forward again and again to beat the fast bowlers.

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Memorable innings against Windies
Mushtaq Ali made his/her Test debut at the age of 20 against England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 1934. Two years later, he/she immortalised himself in the world of cricket by scoring a century on English soil. his/her adventurous batting often cost him/her his/her wicket. But then he/she proved that he/she could bat responsibly when he/she returned as an opening batsman in the third Test against the West Indies in Calcutta in 1948-49 and scored brilliant knocks of 54 and 106 to help India save the match.

Played 11 Tests in two decades
But still he/she was never a good batsman in the eyes of the selectors. After this series, he/she was dropped once again. he/she was recalled for the 1951-52 series against England. Mushtaq Ali failed in that match and was immediately dropped from the England tour, which effectively put a curtain on his/her career. his/her career lasted for almost two decades but he/she played only 11 Tests in it. Mushtaq Ali scored a total of 612 runs in 20 innings of 11 Test matches at an average of 32.21. These include two centuries and three half-centuries. he/she played the last Test of his/her career against England. In this match played in Chennai, Team India crushed England. This was also India’s first Test win.

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Domestic T20 trophy in his/her name
Mushtaq Ali also wrote a book named ‘Cricket Delightful’ in 1967. India’s domestic T20 tournament ‘Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy’ is played in his/her name. The Government of India honoured him/her with ‘Padma Shri’ in 1964, saluting his/her invaluable contribution to cricket. Mushtaq Ali was born on 17 December 1914 in Indore. he/she said goodbye to this world on 18 June 2005 at the age of 91.

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