Met him in the hospital yesterday [Monday] before leaving for Dubai [to commentate on the Champions Trophy]. He kept on proffering his hand for me to shake it as if he knew we weren’t going to do it again. Told him I will see him on 22nd morning and he gave a wan smile.

He was like my elder brother. We lived a building across each other and grew up together, went to the same school and college. Played tennis ball cricket in the compound. He played Ranji before me and like Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian, Shams Mulani have done for Mumbai this year, Milind always came to the rescue when we, the so-called top order, failed.