Former India opener Anshuman Gaekwad no more

Former India opener Anshuman Gaekwad, known for his courageous batting against top West Indies pacers in the 70s, died at 71 after battling cancer. He played 40 Tests, coached India, and served in key BCCI roles.

HYDERABAD: Former India opener Anshuman Gaekwad, who faced the mighty West Indian pace attack with grit and determination in the 70s without any protective gear, passed away in London late on Saturday. He was 71.

Gaekwad played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs and had been undergoing treatment for blood cancer at King’s College Hospital in London before returning home last month.

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He scored 1985 Test runs at 30.07 average, including two centuries and 10 fifties, with 201 against Pakistan as his highest score, and in 15 ODIs, scored 279 runs with 78 not out being the highest.

The tall opener was involved in one of the most memorable battles on the cricket field when he took on the fury of the fiery, young pace duo of Michael Holding and Wayne Daniel in the 1976 Test series in the West Indies and forged some memorable partnerships with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.

He was also coach of the Indian team when leg-spinner Anil Kumble achieved the rare feat of claiming all 10 wickets in an innings in the Test match against Pakistan in 1998 in Delhi.

Gaekwad was also the national selector, a representative of the ICA on the BCCI Apex Council, and president of the Baroda Cricket Association.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ICC chairman Jay Shah, and Sunil Gavaskar were among those who paid rich tributes to the former India opener.