The cricketing community is mourning the loss of Anshuman Gaekwad, a former Indian cricketer, coach, and selector, who passed away after battling blood cancer. Gaekwad’s legacy in Indian cricket is remembered fondly by notable figures including BCCI, senior national team head coach Gautam Gambhir, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Who Was Anshuman Gaekwad?
Anshuman Gaekwad, a distinguished former Indian cricketer and two-time coach of the Indian cricket team, is remembered for his remarkable powers of concentration and patience on the field. He featured in 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India, making his Test debut against the West Indies in December 1974. Gaekwad amassed 1985 runs in 70 innings at an average of 30.07 in Tests, with two centuries and ten fifties. His highest score of 201 against Pakistan in Jalandhar, which took 671 minutes to achieve, remains notable for being the slowest double century in first-class cricket at the time.
Gaekwad’s career was marked by extraordinary grit and bravery. During the pre-helmet era, he had a near-death experience while facing Michael Holding’s fierce bowling in Jamaica in 1975/76. A venomous short ball struck Gaekwad on the ear, landing him in the ICU for 48 hours and requiring two surgeries. Despite this, he ended his playing career on a high note with a century in his last first-class game.
Post-retirement, Gaekwad served as a national selector and took on the role of the Indian cricket team coach twice. His first tenure, from October 1997 to September 1999, saw mixed results. While he made significant improvements with the ODI team, a disastrous tour of Australia in 1999 and a disappointing World Cup campaign led to the end of his coaching stint.
Gaekwad returned as coach in 2000 after Kapil Dev’s resignation, serving from August to October before John Wright succeeded him. Despite the ups and downs, Gaekwad’s contributions as a player and coach have left a lasting legacy in Indian cricket.