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Indian test skipper Virat Kohli came out to speak to the media on the eve of their tour opener against West Indies on Thursday. However, before he started talking business, the dashing batsman started the press meet by expressing his and the teams’ condolences to the family of hockey legend Mohammad Shahid who passed away on Wednesday in New Delhi.
We wanted to pay our condolences, as the Indian cricket team, to Mr Mohammad Shahid’s family. He was an icon in hockey and one of the greatest players who brought so much glory to the nation. It is a very sad moment. We were informed about it this morning and we would like to pay our sincere condolences and offer support to his family. May God bless his soul.Virat Kohli, Captain-India
The hockey legend, known for his wizardly stick work during his playing days, passed away on Wednesday due to multiple organ failure in a private hospital in Gurgaon. The 56-year-old great had been flown in from Varanasi earlier this month after a bout of jaundice and dengue made his condition worse.
Known for his brilliant dribbling skills, Shahid was considered one of India’s greatest hockey players. He was a member of the V Baskaran-led Indian team that won a gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He was also a part of the national team that won a silver medal at the Delhi Asian Games in 1982 and bronze in the Seoul Asiad in 1986.