MUMBAI: 'Mona' Mohan Madhusudan Kowli, who was once the captain of the Indian Airlines All-India team and played in the Kanga League for John Bright CC, passed away on Sunday at his residence at 7 pm.
He was 75. He was cremated at Bhagoji Keer Crematorium at Shivaji Park later in the night.
More popularly known as 'Mona,' he assisted many of India's young cricketers to experience English County Cricket.
He was very close to cricket greats Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sandeep Patil and many other top Mumbai cricketers.
"It's very sad news. He was so helpful every time at the airport and always smiling. A good cricketer too. May his soul rest in peace," Gavaskar told TOI.
"He was a wonderful human being. Mona was so very helpful to all the cricketers while at Indian Airlines -whether getting a seat in aircraft at the last moment or excess weight due to big kit bags. He was a hard-core Mumbai cricket fan. An ever-smiling man, he was a big favourite with cricketers and administrators," said Vengsarkar.
"The cricketing fraternity of the 80s owes a lot to Kowli. In those days, there was just one airline-Indian Airlines, and he helped both the cricketers and journalists with tickets," said veteran journalist Makarand Waingankar.
"Very sad to hear, When I started Club Cricket, he was my Shivaji Park Youngsters Captain," Sandeep Patil said.
Kowli was instrumental in helping the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli and many other youngsters during their initial days. He was a life member of the Shivaji Park Gymkhana Club.
