Former India Cricketer and Coach Anshuman Gaekwad Passes Away at 71
Former India cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad passed away at the age of 71 on Wednesday night after a prolonged battle with blood cancer. Gaekwad played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India from 1975 to 1987, in addition to 206 first-class games for Baroda.
Snehal Parikh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), confirmed that Gaekwad passed away around 10 p.m. Gaekwad had traveled to King’s College Hospital in London for treatment and returned to his hometown Baroda in June to continue his care at a local hospital.
As a batsman, Gaekwad amassed 1,985 runs in Test cricket, with his highest score being 201 against Pakistan. In the 50-over format, he scored 269 runs. He formed a successful opening partnership with Sunil Gavaskar in Tests.
After his playing career, Gaekwad transitioned to coaching and served as India's head coach from October 1997 to September 1999. During his tenure, leg-spinner Anil Kumble famously took all ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan in New Delhi in 1999.
Gaekwad's contributions to cricket were recognized with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017-18. He also served on the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) alongside Kapil Dev and Shantha Rangaswamy. Until his demise, he was President of the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA) and represented the body in the BCCI Apex Council from 2019 to 2022.
Earlier this year, Gaekwad's father, Datta Gaekwad, who played 11 Tests for India, passed away in Baroda.
Gaekwad's legacy in Indian cricket, both as a player and a coach, will be remembered by many. His dedication to the sport and significant contributions to Indian cricket have left an indelible mark.
