India’s longest-living Test cricketer Dattajirao Gaekwad breathed his final on Tuesday, February 13 and his passing brings an finish to an period of Indian cricket. Gaekwad handed (*95*) at his residence in Baroda, aged 95.
The former India cricketer represented the nation in 11 Test matches in a profession that spanned virtually 9 years. Primarily a batter, Dattajirao may additionally bowl medium tempo and leg spin throughout his taking part in days. He scored 350 runs throughout 20 innings for the Indian workforce, together with a half-century.
Dattajirao spent nearly all of his profession taking part in at the home degree. The right-handed batter performed 110 first-class video games and amassed 5788 runs at a median of 36.40. He racked up 17 centuries and 23 half-centuries in the course of the course of his first-class profession and in addition snared 25 scalps.
Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan shared the information of Dattajirao’s passing on social media and paid a heartfelt tribute to him.
“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,” Irfan captioned his put up on X (previously Twitter) together with a picture of Dattajirao.
Dattajirao made his Test debut in opposition to England in Leeds in June 1952 and performed his final recreation for the nation in opposition to arch-rivals Pakistan in Chennai in January 1961.
He led the workforce throughout India’s tour of England in 1959 the place India misplaced all 5 Test matches and suffered a clear sweep. His highest Test rating (52) got here in opposition to West Indies in New Delhi in 1959.
BCCI pays homage to India’s longest-living Test cricketer
The Board of Control for Cricket in India additionally paid homage to Dattajirao. “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,” BCCI wrote on X.
