‘Stumped’: A memoir that does not mince words

Coming as it does nearly four decades after his unceremonious exit from test cricket, legendary cricket icon Syed Kirmani’s autobiography ‘Stumped’, launched on his 75th birthday, is as intriguing as his magic behind the stumps.

The title is an assertion of the astonishment of the batsmen after their dismissals by Kirmani as well as Kirmani’s perplexity at the shocks he suffered in his cricketing career. Indeed, while there’s much about his life behind the 22 yards, there’s more beyond it.

Kirmani was undoubtedly one of the best wicketkeepers in the world during his time; a saviour and match-winner for both his home state Karnataka and for India. He was adjudged the best wicketkeeper in the 1983 Prudential World Cup which India won.

His test cricket career lasted just a decade but the small-built, lion-hearted Kirmani made a huge mark, leaving a lasting impression among cricket lovers. He is best remembered for his exploits in the 1983 World Cup, particularly in the do-or-die match against Zimbabwe where he gave solid support to Kapil Dev by playing safely and not getting out after India lost wickets cheaply earlier. Kapil scored 175 runs, Kirmani 24; both remained not out creating a world record ninth-wicket partnership to beat Zimbabwe and advance to the final group match against Australia which India won. The rest is history.

Kirmani has outlined his cricketing journey without mincing words about the person that cricket made him to be. Who can believe that someone who used bricks as gloves when he started playing cricket on the streets of Bengaluru’s Jayamahal Extension would become one of the world’s best wicketkeepers?

It is at once touching and inspiring to read of his early days — how he walked some 16 km to school and back every day because his father could not afford a bus pass, about the modest house they lived in, the punishment he got in school or the one-pedal bicycle he rode on his first day to work at the State Bank of India even before he turned 18. His simplicity and honesty shine through.

Kirmani made his test debut in 1976 against New Zealand. A decade later, he played his last test against Australia in 1986. “These ten years were full of swings, one that even a see-saw maker could take ideas from,” writes journalist Dakshesh Pathak who has co-authored the book along with Debashish Sengupta.

In that decade, he played 88 test matches scoring 2759 runs that included two centuries, 12 half-centuries, 160 catches and 38 stumpings.

Yet, despite a glorious career, Kirmani suffered setbacks and humiliations.  He was dropped “like a hot brick” during the World Cup in 1979 and again for the Benson and Hedges World Series in Australia and New Zealand in 1984-85. In a chapter titled ‘Bodyline Blows’, he pulls no punches in recollecting in detail all the adverse happenings on and off the field.

Additionally, Pathak notes how Kirmani was left stranded at 198 wickets, not allowed to play another test match to reach 200 dismissals, not even in gratitude for his service. “They were determined to finish his career, for vengeance, jealousy or to promote someone else in the team.” Kirmani believes there was a conspiracy to end his career in 1986. “I don’t know who planned it or why. I slowly came to understand the politics that makes you a scapegoat without any reason.”

What makes the book a delightful read are the charming anecdotes and fascinating facts about cricket as well as the colourful person that Kirmani is. It was amusingly compelling to read the compliments and memories of nearly 25 cricketers about Kirmani. A notable omission here is cricketer Brijesh Patel, perhaps due to a wrangle in the past which Kirmani alludes to in the book. The many black and white and colour photographs bring back memories of a bygone era when cricket was truly a gentleman’s game.

Alas, what is likely to also leave readers stumped are the many bloopers. The typos, misspellings of even well-known names and some poorly constructed sentences are unpardonable, coming from a reputed publisher.

That said, for cricket buffs, this book is a worthy addition to their bookshelf.