Big and burly, cricketer Polly Umrigar, acknowledged as one of India’s all-time greats, was nicknamed “Palm-tree hitter” in the West Indies
Kersi Meher-Homji
Polly Umrigar, the titan of Indian cricket along with Vijay Hazare and Vinoo Mankad in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, was always a schoolboy at heart despite holding many records in Indian cricket. The burly six-footer with a prominent nose and a determined chin gave his all as an adventurous batsman, accurate off-spinner, slip fielder, captain, coach, chairman of the national selection committee and executive secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
I still can’t believe that he died 14 years ago in November 2006 but happy memories will forever linger with me and with his friends......