Late cricketer Salim Durani’s ex-wife found abandoned at near Mumbai station; hospitalised in 'very poor' condition

MUMBAI: Late India cricketer Salim Durani's former wife was rescued from Belapur station last week in a fragile state, seemingly abandoned, and with no memory of how she ended up at the station.

The 84-year-old, Rekha Shrivastava, and Durani, who died in 2023, had divorced years ago, said a close friend of the former couple, adding that she lived in Khar after remarrying, later moved to Mira Road with her son from that marriage, and had been staying in an Andheri hotel for the last couple of years.


Tarun Mishra, founder of NGO Help Drive Foundation that runs shelters for the homeless, who was involved with her rescue, said she is in hospital in "very poor" condition and has lost her memory. A source said that Shrivastava and Durani's daughter is in touch with Mishra and discussions are underway regarding the next steps. "Once the son is traced, there will be more clarity on what exactly happened to her."

Shrivastava's plight came to light after a video uploaded by the NGO's founder on Instagram went viral. In the clip, she claimed to be the late all-rounder's former wife. While some disputed the claim, conversations with multiple people, including the friend, and further verification confirmed her identity.

Mishra, who is based in Surat and runs over 20 centres across Gujarat, said Shrivastava first spoke about Durani when she was taken to Belapur police station as part of the protocol.

"We posted the video on social media to gather more information about her, verify what she was telling us, and trace her family. We follow this process for every homeless person brought to our shelter, since many cannot recall where they are from," he told TOI. "Later, her friends and associates contacted me and confirmed her identity. Since Durani's name is connected to her, people have shown interest. There are many others at our centres whose families we still haven't been able to locate."

A representative of former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja reached out to Mishra to offer assistance, but he declined individual help. "Ours is not an old-age home; it's a shelter for the homeless. We are self-sufficient in caring for everyone who comes here, and all are treated equally. We told them that if they wish to help, they can donate to the NGO —not to an individual," he said.

Known for his charming looks, Durani played 29 Tests for India, during which he took 75 wickets with his left-arm spin and scored 1,202 runs. A left-handed batter, he had the ability to change the course of a match with his aggressive strokeplay and earned a reputation for hitting sixes on demand.