Bipin Dani, in Observer, 13 December 2017
Former India cricketer Salim Durani completed 83 years on Monday. He had reason to remember his 84th birthday on two counts. First, Team India captain Virat Kohli married to Anushka Sharma on this day. Secondly, on this same day, the Indian cricket board has announced that Afghanistan would play its inaugural Test against India.
Incidentally, Durani was born in Kabul (Afghanistan). “The news of Afghanistan to play its first Test against India has given me more joy than Kohli marrying Anushka on my birthday”, speaking exclusively over telephone from Jamanagar, he said. “Kohli would have married on any day but the announcement on my birthday that my birth country would start its Test journey against India, which is a Big team, is a bigger news to me. Being an Indian I love India”, he added.
“Kohli is like my son. It was his decision (with Anushka) to have destination marriage. But personally I feel both being Indians should have married in our country”.
Durani met Kohli once in the past. “Our meeting took place in a restaurant. I did invite him for a dinner but he politely declined it”. “I spent my birthday at my home. There was no celebration. At this age, we don’t celebrate the birthday. But I wish a very happy marriage life to the couple”, he signed off.
Currency note
As the date of Virat Kohli’s marriage with Anushka Sharma was getting momentum, a currency note collector in Morbi (Gujarat State) wasted no time to collect a 10 Rupee currency note having number 111217. “I shall be arriving in Mumbai (during Kohli’s reception date) and try to present him this note. They can retain this note as a remembrance of their wedding day”, Parmar, speaking exclusively from Morbi, said.
As the date of Virat Kohli’s marriage with Anushka Sharma was getting momentum, a currency note collector in Morbi (Gujarat State) wasted no time to collect a 10 Rupee currency note having number 111217. “I shall be arriving in Mumbai (during Kohli’s reception date) and try to present him this note. They can retain this note as a remembrance of their wedding day”, Parmar, speaking exclusively from Morbi, said.
