Former India captain and batting great Ajit Wadekar, who led India to their first overseas Test wins in England and the West Indies, passed away today after extended illness. Wadekar, 77, was admitted to a hospital in South Mumbai yesterday where he was declared dead.
“He had been critically unwell for sometime and was seeking treatment for the same,” read the statement from the Jaslok Hospital.
Cricket career
Wadekar was an aggressive batsman at a time when test style of play was most followed one. He featured in 37 test matches for India, captaining them to maiden test triumph in England and West Indies. The Mumbai batsman amassed 2,113 runs in test matches which included one hundred and five half centuries.
He was the first ever ODI captain for India which remains as his career highlight. He ended up on the loosing side in his only 2 appearance in ODIs against England after which he retired from the International cricket in 1974.
Team manager
Wadekar also served as India’s manager in the ’90s during Mohammed Azharuddin’s captaincy. He later went on to be the selector.
Awards
For his contributions to Indian cricket he was conferred with the Arjuna Award, instituted by the Government of India to recognise sporting talents. He received Padmashri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour in 1972.
