Former Indian cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad has passed away. He was fighting a long battle with blood cancer. He breathed his last on Wednesday. He died at the age of 71 after battling cancer. Gaekwad also coached the Indian team. He represented Team India in 40 Tests and 15 ODIs from 1975 to 1987.
Jai Shah paid tribute
BCCI secretary Jai Shah has paid tribute to him. He wrote on the x- My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Anshuman Gaekwad. Heartbroken for the entire cricket world. May his soul rest in peace.
Made Test debut against West Indies
Gaekwad played international cricket for 12 years between 1975 and 1987. He represented Team India in 40 Tests and 15 ODIs from 1975 to 1987. In Tests, he scored 1985 runs with 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries, while in 15 ODIs he scored 269 runs with a half-century. Gaikwad has 12136 runs and 143 wickets in 206 first-class matches. He was India’s opening batsman. Gaikwad started his Test career against West Indies on 17 December 1975 at Eden Gardens. He made his ODI debut at Lord’s on 7 June 1975.
He was Team India’s coach twice
Talking about Team India coaching, he played this role twice. Gaikwad was the coach of the Indian team twice between 1997 and 2000. During his first tenure, Team India was captained by Sachin Tendulkar. While the second tenure was after the turmoil in Indian cricket and the match-fixing scandal. He was also a national selector in the 1990s. Anil Kumble’s 10 wickets against Pakistan and 2-1 victory in the home series against Australia were the achievements of his coaching career. In the year 200, he helped Team India reach the semi-finals of the ICC Knockout Trophy.
Sandeep Patil had sought help
Recently Gaikwad was admitted to the hospital. Former cricketer Sandeep Patil went to King’s College Hospital in London to meet him. He had sought funds from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to help Gaikwad. BCCI then released a fund of Rs 1 crore.
