Syed Abid Ali, 83, who passed away in Tracy, California, on March 12th, will be remembered as the epitome of courage on the cricket field. He was the fittest player of his era, an outstanding fielder, and a personification of joy. Abid Ali’s spirit, sportsmanship, and selflessness defined an era, with his legacy occupying a permanent niche in the annals of Indian cricket. His deeds remain etched in the folklore of the game.
A Hyderabadi cricketer, Abid Ali played first-class cricket alongside legends such as Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, M. L. Jaisimha, Abbas Ali Baig, Jayantilal Kenia, D. Govindraj, and P. Krishnamurthy. He represented the golden era of the 1960s and 1970s, when Hyderabad was a formidable team, regularly challenging the dominance of teams like Bombay, Delhi, and Rajasthan.
On the field, Abid Ali resembled a panther with his striking athleticism, whether fielding or running between the wickets. He was electrifying, regarded as one of the finest fielders of his time. His round-arm medium pace was penetrative, and he was a reliable fielder at any position.
Abid Ali had the agility of a sprinter, the endurance of a marathon runner, and the willpower of a soldier, but he was unfortunate to be born two decades too early. His game was tailor-made for one-day cricket—with brisk medium-pace bowling, razor-sharp fielding, and lower-order batting that included hare-like running between the wickets.
Alongside Eknath Solkar, Abid Ali revolutionised India’s close-in fielding, providing a solid foundation for the famed spin quartet—Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, S. Venkataraghavan, and B. S. Chandrasekhar—to thrive.
However, due to India’s virtual over-reliance on spin bowling, Abid Ali’s international career was curtailed, as opportunities for medium pacers were limited. “Abid Ali never went on to establish himself as a premier name in Indian cricket, partly because he had the misfortune of being a bowler in the era of India’s famous spin quartet,” ESPN wrote in its tribute.
He joined a select group of players to have opened both the batting and bowling for India and the world in Test cricket. Over 29 Tests, he maintained a batting average of 20.36 and a bowling average of 42.12.
Outstanding Test Debut
Making his Test debut against Australia in Brisbane, Abid Ali demonstrated his bowling prowess by capturing six wickets for 55 runs—an impressive feat that announced his arrival on the international stage. In the same series, he scored two gritty half-centuries (78 and 81), proving his capability as a complete all-rounder. His close-in fielding, sharp as a hawk’s gaze, added further weight to his credentials. The performance earned him high praise from Jack Fingleton, the noted Australian cricketer-turned-journalist.
Architect of India’s Historic 1971 Victories
Abid Ali played a pivotal role in shaping two of India’s historic Test series victories in 1971—first in the West Indies and then in England—both of which elevated India to new heights in world cricket.
In the West Indies series, Abid Ali was at the crease with Sunil Gavaskar when India secured its maiden Test win in the Caribbean in March 1971. A heartwarming yet lesser-known story from that match in Port of Spain recounts how Abid Ali, instead of sealing the win himself, walked to the non-striker’s end with a single and told Gavaskar, “It’s your right, young man, to hit the winning stroke. You’ve played an amazing game.” Such was his humility and sportsmanship.
Five months later, in England, he played an integral role in India’s historic victory at The Oval—hailed as India’s ‘Cricketing Independence.’ As India approached the finish line, Farokh Engineer asked Abid Ali to let him hit the winning runs. This time, Abid chose his own moment and dispatched the ball to the boundary. Before it reached the ropes, a jubilant crowd stormed the field, eager to grab the ball as a souvenir.
At Port of Spain, it was the crucial half-centuries from Abid Ali and Gavaskar that set up India’s moment of glory. Gavaskar was the revelation of the tour, scoring four centuries, including a double hundred, but Abid Ali’s contributions were no less vital.
End of Career
Abid Ali’s international career ended abruptly, even though he was still at his peak. In the 1975 World Cup, he top-scored with 70 from No. 7 and took 2 for 35 against New Zealand, showcasing his prowess in the shorter format of the game. It was a fitting yet bittersweet end for a player whose skills were ideally suited for one-day cricket.
Tributes and Remembrance
Commentator Harsha Bhogle recalled how his school friends in Hyderabad hailed their hero as ‘chacha,’ a respectful term for an elder, and bid him farewell with a heartfelt ‘khuda hafiz.’ Despite the communal tensions of modern India, it was heartening to see a Muslim hero remembered with such love and respect. Abid Ali always saw himself as a proud Indian team member, first and foremost. Bhogle also recalled his schoolboy days when he took two buses to reach the Hyderabad stadium just to watch Abid Ali bowl to Sunil Gavaskar in a Ranji Trophy match.
Former India cricketer Madan Lal, who played alongside Abid Ali in the Lancashire League, described him as immensely popular, grounded, gutsy, and a true fighter. "He was every captain’s go-to person because Abid could deliver a brilliant knock or a stunning breakthrough with the ball. He was always there."
Mohammed Azharuddin, another Hyderabadi and former India captain, said, "I would watch him at the Fateh Maidan because he was such an electric fielder. We were told he was exceptionally fit and always willing to help youngsters with his tremendous knowledge of the game."
Farokh Engineer paid rich tributes, calling him a "grossly underestimated cricketer" despite his all-round abilities. “He gave 100 percent every time he played for India. People don’t realise how good a close-in fielder he was—he may have been overshadowed by Solkar, but together they made life much easier for our spinners,” Engineer said. Reflecting on his personal friendship with Abid Ali, he added, “We don’t know what was wrong with him. Was he ailing for a while? I send my sincerest condolences to his family in America, in Hyderabad, or wherever they may be.”
Engineer concluded, “He was a great man, a great cricketer, and a great friend indeed. A sad loss for India and Indian cricket.”
The Man Who Read His Own Obituary—Twice
Abid Ali had the dubious distinction of reading his own obituary—twice. In 1995, following heart surgery, a rumour of his death spread during a Test match broadcast on Doordarshan. Farokh Engineer, misinformed, announced his demise on air. The mistake was quickly corrected, and Engineer later refuted the false report. Again, in 2019, confusion arose when a Pakistani actor with the same name passed away, leading to another wave of incorrect reports. Abid Ali, ever the sport, laughed it off.
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