After a protracted fight with blood cancer, Anshuman Gaekwad, the former Indian batter and head coach, passed away at the age of 71. Gaekwad passed away in Baroda following a brief stay in the ICU as a result of many health issues. Gaekwad was in London till last month.
From 1975 to 1987, Gaekwad participated in 40 Test matches and 15 One-Day Internationals for India. He then went on to serve as a selector and eventually the team’s coach.
Gaekwad was a hitter who amassed 1985 runs from 70 Test innings. His best score came in 1982–1983, when he patiently batted for 671 minutes, which at the time was the slowest double-century in first-class cricket history.
In addition, he is well-known for making 81 runs in Jamaica against a West Indies team that included Michael Holding in their assault. This achievement is all the more remarkable given that it occurred during a time when neither bouncer regulations nor helmets were in place. Gaekwad was stung in the ear by a Holding bouncer, puncturing his eardrum, necessitating surgery. He went into considerable detail about the incident in his May 2023 book, “Guts Amid Bloodbath.”
The captain of India, Rohit Sharma, expressed his “absolutely devastated” reaction to the news. “On the eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka, I was fortunate to have a few conversations with him during the BCCI awards, and on a personal note as well,” Rohit stated in Colombo. He was there when I was playing the Ranji Trophy, and I got to chat to him when he had some things to say about my game as well. It was really overwhelming for me since he was such an amazing cricket player for us. It’s always pleasant to pick up knowledge from more experienced players, comprehend how difficult the game was in the past, and then share what he has learned and his thoughts on it. At that time, I learned a lot from realizing that. My sincere condolences go out to his family; losing a loved one is never easy. I was fortunate to have a couple opportunities to meet and converse with him personally.”
Between 1997 and 2000, Gaekwad served as India’s coach twice. First appointed during the Sachin Tendulkar era, he supervised a period of transition. Later, he returned for a brief amount of time during the match-fixing controversy, following Kapil Dev’s departure, while a permanent replacement was being chosen.
The Independence Cup victory, a 2-1 home series victory over Australia, Anil Kumble’s 10-wicket haul against Pakistan to tie the Test series at home, and a tied ODI series in New Zealand were among India’s high highlights during his term. In 2000, he returned to lead the BCCI to the final of the ICC Knockout Trophy, where they were defeated by New Zealand, on the request of then-president AC Muthiah.
The BCCI president, Roger Binny, paid homage, saying, “Indian cricket is greatly saddened by the demise of Anshuman Gaekwad. His passion for the game, tenacity, and devotion to it were unmatched. He was not just a cricket player but also a friend and mentor to many. He will be sorely missed by the cricket community, and his contributions will live on forever.”
Following requests from Kapil and Sandeep Patil, the BCCI allocated INR 1 crore to fund Gaekwad’s medical care earlier this month.
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