The graceful Mushtaq Ali, India’s first centurion overseas, did not enjoy his 1946 tour to Englanddue to unrest within the Indian team. It is not surprising that Mushtaq Ali chose to confide his feelingsto C.K. Nayudu, his mentor and guru. One of the best moments in Ali’s life had come when Nayudu, during aBombay Pentangular final between the Hindus and Muslims, encouraged a severely injured Ali to play the inningsof his life – a knock of 36 against all odds that won the Muslims the tournament by the thinnest of margins –one wicket. This final, played before a huge crowd in 1944, was by far the closest in the history of thetournament.
Ali had one regret – not having played against Bradman’s invincibles in 1948 despite having been picked as vice captain of the touring Indian side. He missed out because of family problems.
How will Mushtaq Ali be remembered in India’s cricket history? Simply put – as the first Indian centurion
overseas. He was also the first Indian to have been selected to play for a World XI in the 1940s.
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