KN Prabhu: known for his lucid style of reporting © Mid-Day

KN Prabhu, the veteran Indian sports writer, died this morning. He was 83. Prabhu had been suffering from pneumonia over the last few months, and was admitted to hospital in the second week of July. He finally passed away at 8.10am today, with all his family members sitting around him.

Prabhu joined the Times of India in 1948 and was one of India's senior-most sportswriters. He was elevated to the position of sports editor in 1959 and served till the end of 1983. He covered Test matches on almost every foreign tour in the 1960s and '70s and was a respected figure among players. From 1983 he worked as a freelance writer for various publications.

Considered by many to be one of India's finest cricket writers, Prabhu was known for his lucid reporting style. Raju Bharatan, one of his contemporaries, picked out a number of qualities that made Prabhu special. "His turn of phrase, individuality of style, memory and literary style made him a special journalist," he said. "He was a voracious reader and always gave the reader a feel of the occasion."

Prabhu is survived by a son and a daughter.