– Dattajirao Gaekwad, India’s oldest living Test cricketer, dies at 95
– Dattajirao Gaekwad, India’s Test cricketer, passes away at 95.
Former India Test Captain Dattajirao Gaekwad Passes Away at 95 in Vadodara
VADODARA: On Tuesday (Feb 13), former India Test captain Dattajirao Gaekwad, aged 95, passed away in Vadodara. Gaekwad, who played in 11 Test matches between 1952 and 1961, including his captaincy stint in the 1959 tour of England, was India’s oldest living Test cricketer. According to the news agency PTI, Gaekwad died due to age-related ailments.
Gaekwad, a right-handed batter, had a successful Test career, scoring 350 runs at an average of 18.41. His highest score was 52 against West Indies in New Delhi in 1959. He is survived by his son Anshuman Gaekwad, who is also a former Indian cricketer and coach of the national team.
Irfan Pathan, a retired all-rounder from Vadodara, shared an emotional post on Gaekwad’s demise on the social media platform X. Pathan reminisced about Gaekwad’s tireless efforts in scouting young talent for Baroda cricket and shaping the future of the team. He expressed his sadness at Gaekwad’s absence, calling it a great loss for the cricketing community.
Despite his limited international success, Gaekwad was a dominant force in domestic cricket, particularly in the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier first-class tournament. He represented Baroda (Vadodara) throughout his career from 1947 to 1961, scoring 5,788 runs at an impressive average of 36.40.
Gaekwad’s record in the Ranji Trophy is remarkable, with 17 centuries and three double-centuries to his name. His highest score of 249 not out against Maharashtra in the 1959-60 season showcased his exceptional batting skills. Furthermore, Gaekwad led Baroda to victory in the 1957-58 season as the team defeated Services in the final under his captaincy.
Gaekwad held the title of India’s oldest living Test cricketer after the demise of Deepak Shodhan, who passed away at the age of 87. Currently, the title belongs to Chingleput Gopinath, a 93-year-old cricketer from Madras.
The cricketing world mourns the loss of Dattajirao Gaekwad, recognizing his contributions to the sport. His skills in both international and domestic cricket have left a lasting impact on the game. The Baroda cricket community, in particular, will deeply feel his absence.
As we bid farewell to Gaekwad, let us remember him as a dedicated sportsman who dedicated his life to the sport he loved. His legacy will live on in the memories of cricket enthusiasts and future generations of players.
Rest in peace, Dattajirao Gaekwad. You will be dearly missed.
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Dattajirao Gaekwad, India’s oldest living Test cricketer, dies at 95 – Kashmir Reader
– Dattajirao Gaekwad, India’s oldest living Test cricketer
– Dattajirao Gaekwad, India’s oldest living Test cricketer dies at 95.
