On December 26, 2025, Rohan Kanhai will celebrate his 90th birthday. While this is an important milestone for anyone, it is particularly important for our nation as a whole.
Rohan was indeed our country’s first superstar in sports. He strode the cricketing areas throughout the world like a giant. His batting was sheer genius, as he played every stroke in the book and invented some of his own. He was a fantastic fielder, particularly in the slips, and in his early stage was one of the best wicketkeepers of his time.
Rohan began his career in the 1950s. It was a very difficult period in our country. At that time the progressive forces in Guyana were confronting colonialism and imperialism as we fought for the independence of Guyana. That movement was led by a villager of Rohan, the great Cheddi Jagan. The anti-colonial struggle here had grasped the imagination of freedom-loving people the world over but more particularly the people of Asia and Africa. The struggles in British Guiana, Kenya and South Africa had captured international headlines in the 1950s and 60s.
The Guyana cricketers of that period in many ways reflected the struggles of our people. But no one more than Rohan with the bat and Lance Gibbs with the ball.
While batting, sometimes Rohan would explode, and then no bowler could keep him down. It did not matter if it was pace or spin; he would hit them to all parts of the ground, seemingly merciless yet with an unmatched elegance.
We saw the same with Gibbs and the ball. When he exploded, he was almost unplayable.
Rohan not only played many magnificent innings, of which it is almost impossible to pick his best. They were all stupendous. Those cricket lovers who never saw the master “blasting for runs” must be considered as unfortunates.
He was also a very astute captain of the West Indies. When the team fell into bad times and began losing a lot, it was Rohan who put it back on its winning ways. He was succeeded by Lloyd, under whose leadership the West Indies enjoyed its longest period at the top of the game.
Rohan became a successful coach after he retired. His period of coaching in Jamaica is still remembered fondly. Many Jamaicans at that time named their children after the great man. This included Bob Marley, who had a son named Rohan.
On this occasion of his 90th birthday, I wish to thank him for the pleasure and pride he provided for the cricketing world and for us in Guyana and the Caribbean.
I say, “Happy Birthday, Great One,” and keep going for the century!