By Deepak Sharma
Former Indian Cricketer and Coach Anshuman Gaekwad passed away on July 31, 2024, at the age of 71. He had been suffering from the incurable disease of blood cancer for the past year and was currently undergoing treatment at Kings College Hospital in London. Recently, the honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah, had announced financial assistance of 10 million rupees for his treatment.
Expressing grief over his death, the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, said that Anshuman Gaekwad will be remembered for his contribution to cricket. He was a talented player and an excellent coach. I am saddened by his demise and extend my condolences to his family and fans.
Mr Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI, said, “The passing of Aunshuman Gaekwad is a profound loss for the cricketing community. A true servant of Indian cricket, he will be remembered for his courage, wisdom, and dedication to the sport. His contribution to the game has been significant, and he leaves behind a lasting legacy. My thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Born on September 23, 1952, in Bombay, Maharashtra (India), Anshuman Dattajirao Gaekwad played 40 Test matches for India, scoring 1985 runs at an average of 30.07 in 70 innings, and 15 One Day Internationals, scoring 269 runs at an average of 20.69 in 14 innings. He was known for his strong defensive mindset against fast bowlers, especially when facing the then-lethal bowling attack of the West Indies. He demonstrated patience and concentration by batting for 671 minutes to score his career-best 201 runs in a Test match against Pakistan in Jalandhar in 1982-83.
As a cricket coach, he twice served as the coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, and during his tenure, the Indian team was the runner-up in the ICC Champions Trophy held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2000.
Anshuman Gaekwad’s father, Late Dattajirao Krishnarao Gaekwad, also played 11 Test matches for India between 1952 and 1961, and his son, Shatrunjay Gaekwad, currently plays cricket for the Baroda team.
Deepak Sharma
E-mail: spacewalker008@gmail.com