NEW DELHI, June 23: Former India wicket-keeper/batsman Budhi Kunderan has died of lung cancer aged 66 in Scotland, the Press Trust of India news agency reported on Friday.

Kunderan made his Test debut against Richie Benaud's Australians at home in 1960 before he had played a first-class match.

Kunderan, a hard-hitting batsman, scored 981 runs in 18 Tests with two centuries and three half-centuries before retiring in 1967. He also took 23 catches and brought off seven stumpings.

His best came against Mike Smith's Englishmen in 1963-64 when he became the first wicket-keeper to complete 500 runs in a Test series, including his highest score of 192 at Chennai.

Kunderan, who later emmigrated to Scotland, also scored 5,708 runs in 129 first-class matches with 12 centuries.—AFP