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{{Short description|Indian cricketer}}{{About|the Indian cricketer also referenced as Keki Mistry|the Indian business executive|Keki Mistry}}{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Kekhashru Mistry
| image = K. M. Mistry.png
| country = India
| fullname = Kekhashru Maneksha Mistry
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1874|11|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1959|07|22|1874|11|07|df=y}}
| death_place = Bombay, India
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = Left-arm medium
| role = All-rounder
| club1 = [[Parsees cricket team|Parsees]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|1893/94–1927/28}}
| columns = 1
| column1 = [[First-class cricket|First-class]]
| matches1 = 39
| runs1 = 1,600
| bat avg1 = 23.52
| 100s/50s1 = 0/10
| top score1 = 95
| deliveries1 = 4003
| wickets1 = 104
| bowl avg1 = 13.17
| fivefor1 = 6
| tenfor1 = 2
| best bowling1 = 8/70
| catches/stumpings1 = 34/–
| date = 30 November
| year = 2021
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/kekhashru-mistry-31341 ESPNcricinfo
||image_size=150px}}

[[Colonel]] '''Kekhashru Maneksha Mistry''' (7 November 1874{{spnd}}22 July 1959){{efn|Mistry's name has also been referenced as Keki Manikji Mistri, Keki M. Mistri, and K. M. Mistri in reports from the period.}} was an Indian cricketer who was a member of the [[Indian cricket team in England in 1911|first all-Indian cricket team to tour England in 1911]]. A left-handed batsman and a left-arm bowler, he was considered one of India's first [[all-rounder]]s. Mistry was a member of the [[Parsees cricket team]] in the [[Bombay Quadrangular|Bombay Presidency]] tournaments and also played for the [[Maharaja of Patiala]]'s team.

Mistry was an aide to the maharaja, [[Bhupinder Singh of Patiala]], an association that continued until the maharaja's death, and was referred to as the 'grand old man of Indian cricket'.

== Biography ==
Mistry was born on 7 November 1874 in [[Bombay]], then in [[British India]], into a [[Parsis|Parsee]] family.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Kekhashru Mistry profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/kekhashru-mistry-31341|access-date=30 November 2021|website=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130214744/https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/kekhashru-mistry-31341|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mistry toured England with the [[Indian cricket team in England in 1911|first all-Indian side]] led by the 19-year-old [[Maharaja Bhupinder Singh]] of Patiala in 1911. He was the maharaja's [[aide-de-camp]] during the tour and was forced to return to India with him mid-way after the maharaja's surgery for [[tonsillitis]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Kidambi|first=Prashant|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vUKjDwAAQBAJ&dq=K.+M.+Mistry&pg=PA354|title=Cricket Country: An Indian Odyssey in the Age of Empire|date=12 November 2018|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-258111-2 |access-date=30 November 2021|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130221851/https://books.google.com/books?id=vUKjDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA354&dq=K.+M.+Mistry&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=je7DBAAAQBAJ|title=A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport|date=10 October 2014|publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-93-5118-693-9|page=182 |access-date=1 December 2021|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201022526/https://books.google.ca/books?id=je7DBAAAQBAJ&newbks=0&hl=en&redir_esc=y|url-status=live}}</ref> He only played in three of the tour matches, scoring 78 runs in an innings against the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] (MCC) at [[Lord's]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marylebone Cricket Club v India at Lord's, 8-9 Jun 1911 |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1911/IND_IN_ENG/IND_MCC_08-09JUN1911.html |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=static.espncricinfo.com |archive-date=4 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204220616/http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1911/IND_IN_ENG/IND_MCC_08-09JUN1911.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the ''[[Wisden]]'' report on the tour the almanack wrote that "a better result might have been obtained if Mistry – unquestionably a high-class batsman – had been able to play right through the summer."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rice|first=Jonathan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KdnqVo8a5XMC&dq=wisden+cricket+mistri&pg=PT40|title=Wisden on India: An anthology|date=18 July 2011|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-1-4081-6263-7 |access-date=30 November 2021|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130222954/https://books.google.com/books?id=KdnqVo8a5XMC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT40&dq=wisden+cricket+mistri&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mistry had served the previous [[Maharaja of Patiala]], [[Rajinder Singh of Patiala|Rajinder Singh]]. Following the maharaja's death, the British government in India acted quickly and took charge of the succession of the nine-year-old Bhupinder Singh. Major [[James Dunlop Smith]] was appointed to manage the affairs of the young maharaja and removed all of the previous maharajah's appointees except Mistry, who had been the guardian of Bhupinder Singh. Mistry stayed on in this position after being deemed trustworthy and of 'sound' disposition by the British officials. The young prince also took a liking to Mistry and the association would continue into the maharajah's playing years.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kidambi|first=Prashant|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vUKjDwAAQBAJ&dq=K.+M.+Mistry&pg=PA354|title=Cricket Country: An Indian Odyssey in the Age of Empire|date=12 November 2018|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-258111-2|pages=172–174 |access-date=30 November 2021|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130221851/https://books.google.com/books?id=vUKjDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA354&dq=K.+M.+Mistry&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition to representing the all-Indian cricket team, Mistry was a member of the [[Parsees cricket team]] in the [[Bombay Quadrangular|Bombay Presidency]] tournament and played for the Maharaja of Patiala's side.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> He scored at least one double century for Patiala, though the matches did not enjoy first-class status.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramaswami |first=N. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qEr95J4R5swC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA8&dq=K.+M.+Mistry+double+century+Patiala&hl=en |title=From Porbandar to Wadekar |date=1975 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-015-0 |language=en |access-date=29 August 2022 |archive-date=29 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829013558/https://books.google.com/books?id=qEr95J4R5swC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA8&dq=K.+M.+Mistry+double+century+Patiala&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> His highest score was 255 runs, scored in 1898 against [[Ambala]], an innings which included a 376-run partnership with [[Ranjitsinhji]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Publishing|first=Bloomsbury|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UA241eeJFnwC&dq=wisden+cricket+mistri&pg=PA90|title=The Shorter Wisden India Almanack 2013 |date=28 February 2013|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-93-82951-01-8 |access-date=30 November 2021|archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130224114/https://books.google.com/books?id=UA241eeJFnwC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA90&dq=wisden+cricket+mistri&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> He was a left-handed batsman and a left-arm bowler, and was considered one of India's first [[All-rounder|all-rounders]].<ref name=":0" />

Mistry continued playing into his fifties, including captaining the second all-India team against the visiting MCC side led by [[Arthur Gilligan]] in 1926. Mistry scored a half-century with his innings being described by ''[[The Times of India]]'' as 'great and courageous'.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Kidambi|first=Prashant|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vUKjDwAAQBAJ&dq=K.+M.+Mistry&pg=PA354|title=Cricket Country: An Indian Odyssey in the Age of Empire |date=12 November 2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-258111-2|page=613 |access-date=30 November 2021|archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130221851/https://books.google.com/books?id=vUKjDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA354&dq=K.+M.+Mistry&hl=en |url-status=live}}</ref> His eighth-wicket partnership with [[D. B. Deodhar]] helped the team draw the game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1st Unofficial Test: All India v Marylebone Cricket Club at Bombay, 16-18 Dec 1926 |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1920S/1926-27/MCC_IN_IND/MCC_ALL-IND_UT_16-18DEC1926.html |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=static.espncricinfo.com |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804124723/http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1920S/1926-27/MCC_IN_IND/MCC_ALL-IND_UT_16-18DEC1926.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He played his last Bombay Quadrangular tournament game in 1927/28 captaining the Parsees against the [[Muslims cricket team|Muslims]] and scored 36 runs in his last innings.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=cricHQ |url=https://www.crichq.com/matches/232857/2nd_innings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201021900/https://www.crichq.com/matches/232857/1st_innings |archive-date=1 December 2021 |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=www.crichq.com}}</ref>

After his retirement, he was an umpire, and chairman of the Indian selection committee.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=Boria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mfw9lvplI8EC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA36&dq=Mistry+cricket+Indian+selection+committee&hl=en |title=Lost Histories of Indian Cricket: Battles Off the Pitch |date=2006-01-16 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-24336-5 |language=en |access-date=29 August 2022 |archive-date=29 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829013558/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mfw9lvplI8EC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA36&dq=Mistry+cricket+Indian+selection+committee&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=Boria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0oA-DwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT505&dq=Mistry+cricket+Indian+selection+committee&hl=en |title=Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians: The On and Off the Field Story of Cricket in India and Beyond |date=2018-04-06 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-93-86797-19-3 |language=en |access-date=29 August 2022 |archive-date=29 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829013558/https://books.google.com/books?id=0oA-DwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT505&dq=Mistry+cricket+Indian+selection+committee&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> He remained a close aide to the Maharaja of Patiala until Singh's death in 1938.<ref name=":2" /> Mistry was referred to as the 'grand old man of Indian cricket' and as the 'Clem Hill of Indian cricket', a reference to the Australian cricketer [[Clem Hill]], a name that was given to him by [[Ranjitsinhji]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaturvedi |first=Ravi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=95EkBQAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT28&dq=mistry+Clem+Hill+of+Indian+cricket&hl=en |title=Legendary Indian Cricketers |date=2009-01-01 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=978-81-8430-075-8 |language=en |access-date=29 August 2022 |archive-date=29 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829013558/https://books.google.com/books?id=95EkBQAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT28&dq=mistry+Clem+Hill+of+Indian+cricket&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> In his book ''Stray Thoughts on Indian Cricket'', J. M. Framjee Patel quoted English cricketers [[J. T. Hearne]] and [[Bill Brockwell]] as having compared his play to that of Ranji, and going on to say, "he seems to attain the maximum of power with the minimum of exertion".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Patel |first=J. M. Framjee |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.06533 |title=Stray thoughts on Indian cricket |date=1905 |publisher=The Times Press, Bombay}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stray Thoughts on Indian Cricket |url=http://www.indianculture.gov.in/rarebooks/stray-thoughts-indian-cricket |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=INDIAN CULTURE |language=en |archive-date=29 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829013601/https://www.indianculture.gov.in/rarebooks/stray-thoughts-indian-cricket |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mistry died on 22 July 1959 in Bombay. He was aged 84.<ref name=":0" />

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Cricinfo|id=31341}}
* [https://www.crichq.com/players/1164433/statistics Kekhashru Mistry] at [[CricHQ]]

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1874 births]]
[[Category:1959 deaths]]
[[Category:Parsees cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:Members of the first Indian cricket team to tour England in 1911]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Mumbai]]

Kekhashru Mistry - Revision history

ImportMaster at 01:42, 29 August 2022