Former State cricketer Adishesh dies

Former Karnataka cricketer LT Adishesh passed away at his residence in Liverpool, England on Saturday. He was 89.

 A middle-order batsman, who once famously refused to go on India’s tour of West Indies, Adishesh played 18 first-class matches for Karnataka (then Mysore) and scored 990 runs at an average of 38.07. A medium pace bowler, he picked up 23 wickets at an average of 29.78.

 Adishesh, who played for South Zone, was being treated for neck cancer. The Liverpool Cricket Club, which he represented, has taken the responsibility to keep his body at their club premises to pay final respects and the final rites will be held on November 29. 

 Hailing from a sporting family, Adishesh, along with his late younger brother LT Subbu and G Kasturirangan, was a part of the Karnataka Ranji Trohy team during the 1950s. Subbu, an all-rounder who captained Karnataka, breathed his last two years ago.

Thorough gentleman

 Kasturirangan, a childhood friend and his contemporary, got emotional while talking about Adishesh. “He was my close my friend and a thorough gentleman,” he began. “I had known him since my school days. We, along with Balaji Srinivasan, were the founders of (local cricket club) Bangalore Cricketers. Adishesh was a good guide to young cricketers and he has nurtured many talents. We were in touch regularly,” said Kasturirangan.

 Adishesh and Kasturirangan were picked in the Indian side for the tour of West Indies in 1952 and the 86-year-old recollects how their decision to withdraw from the tour cost them a chance of donning the national colours again.

 “Myself, Adishesh, Ghulam Ahmed and CD Gopinath were the four players to be picked from South for the tour. But the dominance of West Zone players was huge in the team then and we didn’t feel comfortable with it at that point in time. All four of us (from south) decided to pull out of the tour. Following the incident, the Karnataka State Cricket Association wrote to the Indian cricket board to not to pick me and Adishesh for any future national selection trials, stating that we had failed to inform the association of our decision to withdraw,” he recollected.

 After receiving an offer to play in the Lancashire League, Adishesh shifted base to England. A medical student, Adishesh served as a doctor in the British Medical Council. “He was a fit man. He was a reliable No 4 batsman and his century against Hyderabad, according to me, was one of his best knocks,” said Kasturirangan.