Indian Cricket Stalwart Anshuman Gaekwad Dies At 71 After Cancer Battle

Former Indian cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad passed away at 71 in Vadodara on July 31. He had been battling blood cancer for a prolonged period and was receiving treatment at Bhailal Amin General Hospital.

Gaekwad's resilience against fast bowlers made him a notable figure in cricket. His standout performance was an innings of 201 against Pakistan, where he batted for over 11 hours, showcasing immense concentration and patience.

During his career, Gaekwad played 40 Tests for India, scoring two centuries and ten fifties with an average of 30.07. His First-class career was even more remarkable, accumulating over 12,000 runs at an average above 40, including 34 centuries and 47 fifties.

Tests

ODIs

After retiring from cricket in 1992, Gaekwad transitioned to coaching. He led the Indian men's national team from 1997 to 1999 but stepped down due to lacklustre results. Kapil Dev succeeded him as coach.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India recently provided INR 1 crore to assist with Gaekwad's medical expenses. Financial difficulties had made it challenging for him to afford treatment in London, leading to his return to India for continued care in Vadodara.

Gaekwad also briefly coached the Kenyan men's national team but declined a full-time role in 2009 due to personal reasons. In recognition of his contributions, the BCCI honoured him with the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Anshuman Gaekwad's legacy is marked by his courage on the field and dedication to it. The former Indian coach was an immense professional and will always remain a legend in the folklore of Indian cricket.