by Abhishek Mukherjee
Naren Tamhane was born on 4 August 1931. According to many, he was the first outstanding wicketkeeper to play for India.

It is difficult to assess a wicketkeeper based on numbers from earlier matches.

Dismissals and byes conceded are often the only parameters available.

And dismissals may not mean a lot, because a wicketkeeper's dismissal count depends on the number of chances the bowlers on his side create.

Additionally, wicketkeepers hold more catches off seamers and obviously effect more stumpings to spin.

And you often do not get data for byes.

Tamhane held 35 catches and had 16 stumpings.

Of these, 9 catches and 9 stumpings were off Subhash Gupte, who, with his two googlies, was never easy to pick.

Remember, Tamhane also kept wickets for Vinoo Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed.

He was also the first to reach the 100-dismissal mark in the Ranji Trophy.

Wally Grout compared Tamhane with Don Tallon.

Vijay Merchant called him "as safe as the Bank of England."

Polly Umrigar explained how Tamhane mastered spin: "He could read the bowlers intentions by just watching the grip. When spinners like Subhash Gupte ran in to bowl, he would predict the type of delivery about to be bowled."

My favourite Tamhane story, however, is from the final days of his Test career.

Brilliant wicketkeeper that he was, Tamhane averaged only 18 even at First-Class level (he batted only 96 times in 93 matches).

The selectors wanted to have a look at a young swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman called Budhi Kunderan.

Kunderan did not come from a well-to-do family. He could not afford a new pair of gloves. They were lent to him by – Tamhane.

The other Tamhane story is familiar to Indian cricket fans. Ahead of the 1989-90 tour, the selectors were uncertain over the selection of one Sachin Tendulkar. He was, after all, only 16.

Tamhane's response, while brief, did the trick: "Gentlemen, Tendulkar does not fail."