Tulsidas Balaram, a true icon of Indian football died in a city hospital in Kolkata on Thursday at the age of 85. 

Balaram was one of India’s finest forwards and a big part of the Indian side that won many honours during the 1950s and 60s. 

Part of the famous attacking trio that included PK Banerjee and Chunni Goswami, Balaram was a highly skillful forward known for his dribbling skills and scored 10 goals in 36 matches for the Blue Tigers. 

He was a crucial player as India won the Asian Games gold in 1962 and also represented India in other prestigious tournaments like 1956 and 1960 Olympics, the 1958 Asian Games, the 1959 Merdeka Cup. Balaram was also part of the team that finished fourth in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and runners-up in the 1959 Merdeka Cup. 

At club level, Balaram starred for East Bengal as they won many major honours including the CFL (1961), IFA Shield (1958, 1961), Durand Cup (1960), Rovers Cup (1962). He also won the Santosh trophy four times as a player playing for Hyderabad and West Bengal. 

Tributes poured in for the Indian great after his demise and the Indian football fraternity was united in remembering his contribution to the game in the country.