Sir — The demise of Kishore Bhimani, the Indian commentator with a vast knowledge of cricketwhose commentary of Test matches on Doordarshan in the 1980s enthralled millions of viewers, was saddening (“Kishore Bhimani passes away”, Oct 16). Bhimani was commentating when Sunil Gavaskar became the first player to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket, during the drawn match against Pakistan in Ahmedabad in 1987. As a writer on cricket, Bhimani was known to have been followed by British publishers during his heyday. He was also on air during the final moments of the famous 1986 tied Test against Australia at Chepauk. His death will leave a deep void in the world of Indian cricket commentary.

S.S. Paul,
Nadia

Sir — For lovers of Test cricket in India, especially in the 1980s, Kishore Bhimani is a recognized voice. Both cricket and cricket commentary have changed over time; the renowned commentators of yore have been forgotten by the new generation of cricket fans who do not follow the game beyond the T20 format and the glamour associated with it. Bhimani’s style is sorely missed today.

Rakhi Chakraborty,
Calcutta

Sir — The loss of Kishore Bhimani has deprived the cricketing world of one of the finest commentators, whose deep knowledge of the game and style of commentary in impeccable English set him apart. Bhimani was present at Chepauk, Chennai in 1986, where he commentated on the last bit of the Test between India and Australia. Incidentally, during this Test, I had the opportunity of interacting with him on the pavilion terrace. He showed great interest in the vibrant culture of the city of Chennai.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,
Chennai

Festive beats

Sir — Durga Puja is incomplete without the sound of the dhaak reverberating through the para. Yet the dhaakis, who create this festive ambience, leave for their homes at the end of the celebrations with very little. It is likely that most of their villages have been ravaged by Cyclone Amphan this year. The pandemic must only have made things worse. They should be treated generously this year.

Chandrima Das,
Calcutta