Last week, the former coach of India’s national cricket team and opening batsmen for India in the 1970s and 80s, Anshuman Gaekwad passed away. He was 71 and had been diagnosed with blood cancer in a hospital in London. Those of us who grew up watching Test cricket on Doordarshan in the 1980s would remember Mr Gaekwad as a dour opening batsman but that memory does not do justice to the man’s enormous contribution to Indian cricket. As Suresh Menon explains:
“He was crucial in two periods of transition. When he made his debut, the Indian team was rebuilding itself after a disastrous tour of England and had just deposed Ajit Wadekar as captain. It was necessary to have a batter with courage, who didn’t give up easily and made the bowlers work hard. Gaekwad fit that role. Opening with Sunil Gavaskar, he gave the batters who followed the kind of respite they had not been used to during the phase when the nation debated the question: Who can partner Gavaskar?
Then, after his playing days, as an administrator, Gaekwad saw the transition towards an era of greater professionalism and self-belief as Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and others held the Indian flag aloft.”
Anshuman Gaekwad’s finest hour came in difficult circumstances: “Gaekwad earned his reputation as a player of grit and substance early. As a 22-year-old when he walked out to play that first Test, against West Indies, he crossed the incoming batter who was returning after being hit in the face by Andy Roberts. This was his hero and captain, Tiger Pataudi. Gaekwad made an important 36 in a low-scoring match, which India won, and was run out for 80 in the next, which too India won….
In the West Indies next season, in the “bloodbath” in Kingston, Jamaica, which saw five batters absent hurt in the second innings, Gaekwad helped Sunil Gavaskar add 136 for the opening wicket before he was forced to retire following a nasty blow to the ear from Michael Holding. He needed surgery. He had batted on with a broken finger earlier, using one of the remaining to communicate with Holding in a gesture universally understood.”
RIP Anshuman Gaekwad.
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