Advertisement
Mumbai: On Tuesday, India’s longest-living Test cricketer Dattajirao Gaekwad breathed his last at his residence and his passing brings an end to an era of Indian cricket. Gaekwad passed away at his residence in Baroda, at the aged 95. Dattajirao played 11 Tests for India and led in 4 of them in a Test career that spanned 9 years.
On social media, Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan shared the news of Dattajirao’s passing and paid a heartfelt tribute to him. He said that the former India Test captain, who made his debut in England in June 1952, earned the distinction of India’s oldest-living Test cricket in mid-2016 after the death of Deepak Shodhan, who was 87.
According to the information, Dattaji was battling for life in the ICU of a Baroda hospital for the last 12 days. Primarily a batter, Dattajirao could also bowl medium pace and leg spin during his playing days. He scored 350 runs across 20 innings for the Indian team, including a half-century.
In a social media post, Irfan Pathan said, “Under the shade of the banyan tree at the Motibag cricket ground, from his blue Maruti car, Indian captain D.K. Gaekwad sir tirelessly scouted young talent for Baroda cricket, shaping the future of our team. His absence will be deeply felt. A great loss for the cricketing community.”
Under the shade of the banyan tree at the Motibag cricket ground, from his blue Maruti car, Indian captain D.K. Gaekwad sir tirelessly scouted young talent for Baroda cricket, shaping the future of our team. His absence will be deeply felt. A great loss for cricketing community.… pic.twitter.com/OYyE2ppk88
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 13, 2024
Dattajirao Gaekwad was the father of former India cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987. Dattajirao spent the majority of his career playing at the domestic level. The right-handed batter played 110 first-class games and accumulated 5788 runs at an average of 36.40.
He racked up 17 centuries and 23 half-centuries during the course of his first-class career and also snared 25 scalps. Dattaji scored 350 runs in 11 matches, including a fifty in his Test career. He led India in four Tests during a series in England in 1959. Despite scoring over 1000 runs on the tour, Dattajirao was not able to translate the form into the Test series.
Nonetheless, Dattajirao Gaekwad was a prolific run-getter in first-class cricket for Baroda in a domestic career that spanned 17 years — from 1947 to 1964. He led the team during India’s tour of England in 1959 where India lost all five Test matches and suffered a clean sweep. His highest Test score (52) came against West Indies in New Delhi in 1959.
Dattajirao made his Test debut against England in Leeds in June 1952 and played his last game for the country against arch-rivals Pakistan in Chennai in January 1961. Dattajirao scored 5788 runs in 110 matches, including 17 hundreds and 23 fifties. His highest score was 249 not out in first-class cricket.
The Indian Cricketers’ Association also mourned the death of Datta Gaekwad, who contributed immensely to the growth of Baroda cricket. On social media platform X, BCCI said,”The BCCI expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer. He played in 11 Tests and led the team during India’s Tour of England in 1959. Under his captaincy, Baroda also won the Ranji Trophy in the 1957-58 season, beating Services in the final. The Board expresses its heartfelt condolences to Gaekwad’s family, friends, and admirers.”
