Bengaluru: Yesteryear cricketer KR Rajagopal passed away due to kidney-related ailment here on Friday. Rajagopal, who turned 82 last month, was a top-order batter and wicketkeeper. He made his debut for then Mysore (now Karnataka) against Hyderabad in 1961 alongside EAS Prasanna under G Kasturirangan’s captaincy. He scored 76 in his maiden match. After featuring in 22 matches for Mysore, Rajagopal shifted allegiance to Madras (Tamil Nadu) in the 1966-67 season.
In a career spanning a decade, he featured in 55 matches scoring 3,074 runs including seven centuries. As a wicketkeeper, he claimed 51 catches and effected 22 stumpings.
He played for Madras until the 1969-70 season and his last Ranji Trophy match was for his ‘home state’ Mysore when he turned out against Bihar in the quarterfinals of the 1970-71 season.
Speaking about Rajagopal, former Karnataka cricketer Sudhakar Rao said, “It was a delight to watch Rajagopal bat. His innings were stroke-filled and fearless. As youngsters, who waited for him to play at the Central College