The never-say-die man from Mumbai

Mumbai has seen batsmen of all kinds writes Makarand Waingankar in the Times of India. Some set the crease on fire, while some set the mood by cracking jokes. But there was one player who just never said die - Manohar Hardikar

Hardikar was described as a captain "who knew his players much better than the players themselves knew of their ability" . He had a wry sense of humour that would convey the message, and he would always say it with a straight face.

Possessing an uncanny knack of reading situations, he has had some terrific performances to his credit considering his limited ability. Wearing the whites gave him a new nature and brought tenacity in him.