Ashok Malhotra: 10 things to know about the former Indian batsman

Ashok Malhotra, born January 26, 1957, was an Indian middle-order batsman who failed to make good his considerable talent, but has since come to become one of the most respected coaches in the country. Shiamak Unwalla lists 10 interesting things to know about the man who was once compared to Gundappa Viswanath.

1. Bradmanesque against Sri Lanka

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Malhotra could only play 20 One-Day International’s (ODI) in his career, and ended with a middling average of 30.46. However, he seemed to take a shine to the Sri Lankans. In three matches against the islanders, he scored 111 runs while getting dismissed just once. He ended his career with an average of 111 against them.

2. West Indies basher!

Though he managed to score only two international fifties in 27 matches (20 ODIs and seven Tests). As it happened, both fifties came against West Indies. His highest Test score of 72 not out came when no other Indian batsman could cross 38, and it nearly resulted in an Indian win. His highest ODI score of 65 off 62 balls came while chasing a massive 333. India lost the match, but Malhotra made his mark.

3. Never conceded a run!

One of the most unique records Malhotra holds is not with the bat at all. Malhotra bowled a single over in ODI cricket, against Sri Lanka at his home ground in Amritsar. Having scored 40, he was called on to bowl as the eighth bowler, bowled a maiden, and was never called upon again. This means that he is one of only two bowlers in the history of ODI cricket — the other being Glenn Turner — to bowl an entire over and retire with an economy rate of 0!

4. Ranji record-maker

For a long time, Malhotra held the record of being the leading run-scorer in Ranji Trophy. He played 156 first-class matches for Haryana and Bengal (though he was born in Punjab), and ended up scoring 9,784 runs at an average of 50.95.

5. Man of many talents

Malhotra was not only a Test cricketer; he also went on to become a commentator, national selector, and is now a highly reputed coach.

6. Only Indian coach since John Wright

Malhotra (very) briefly took up the reins as Indian coach after John Wright — then India’s full-time coach — returned to New Zealand ahead of the tri-series in Bangladesh involving India and South Africa.

7. Coaching credentials

Malhotra is one of the few accredited level III coaches in India. He is the current coach of Bengal, and is much-loved by his charges. Sudip Chatterjee told CricketCountry, “Dada, along with our coach [Ashok Malhotra], always supports and encourages me.” He has been openly praised by the likes of Laxmi Ratan Shukla as well.

8. ICL Stint

Malhotra chose to go over to the Indian Cricket League (ICL), a move that he did not regret. He later said that he was left with no choice because he “called a spade a spade” and got “hounded out” by the establishment. He would go onto say that he had got much more respect in ICL.

9. Critical of John Wright

John Wright had, in his autobiography Indian Summers, remarked on the hypocrisy of how some Indian senior players were beyond reproach even though they sometimes failed to perform, while others were just a few failures away from being shown the door.

Malhotra, then a national selector, responded by saying, “I think he is trying to sell his book by raking up all these controversies. There is a lesson for us in this – these mercenaries come to India, stay here for four-five years, they know nothing about our cricket or our system, when they are here they agree with everyone but once they go back after raking in the moolah, they come out with such allegations. Where do you think so many young players came from if the selectors were not doing their work?”

10. Altercation with Murali Kartik

In one of the ugliest on-field spats in Ranji Trophy in recent memory, Malhotra had a run-in with former Indian Test player Murali Kartik. In December 2013, Kartik had Mankaded young Bengal batsman Sandipan Das during a Ranji game. Malhotra and the other Bengal players sarcastically clapped in Kartik’s general direction after the incident, which caused Kartik to say something to Malhotra. The Bengal coach then rushed from his place and started shouting at Kartik, telling him off for setting a bad example and for being “against the spirit of the game.”

(Shiamak Unwalla is a former reporter with CricketCountry.A self-confessed geek who loves cricket more than cricketers,his Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)