Former India test skipper Dattajirao Gaekwad passed away at the age of 95 at his residence in Baroda on Tuesday, February 13. He held the record of being the oldest living Test cricketer in the country. The Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) shared condolences on the former cricketer’s demise.
Dattajirao Gaekwad made his Test debut for India in 1952 against England at the Leeds. He played 11 Test matches for the country, playing his final Test in 1961 against Pakistan at Chennai. He has played 110 first-class matches scoring 5788 runs at an average of 36.40, including seventeen centuries. His highest score was 249 not out in first-class cricket. The former cricketer has also taken 25 wickets in first-class cricket. He has also led India in four test matches during a series in England in 1959.
Dattaji Gaekwad was battling for life in the ICU of a Baroda hospital for the last 12 days, the news agency PTI said. He passed away on Tuesday. He was the father of former India cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987.
Sharing their condolences, the BCCI wrote, “The BCCI expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer.”
“The Board expresses its heartfelt condolences to Gaekwad’s family, friends, and admirers,” they added.
The BCCI expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer. He played in 11 Tests and led the team during India’s Tour of England in 1959. Under his captaincy, Baroda also won the Ranji Trophy in the… pic.twitter.com/HSUArGrjDF
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 13, 2024
Irfan Pathan mourns the loss of Dattajirao Gaekwad
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also took to social media to mourn the loss of Dattajirao Gaekwad. He recalled how Gaekwad scouted young talents and helped to shape the future of the Baroda team. He expressed that the former cricketer’s demise is a great loss for the cricketing community.
“Under the shade of the banyan tree at the Motibag cricket ground, from his blue Maruti car, Indian captain D.K. Gaekwad sir tirelessly scouted young talent for Baroda cricket, shaping the future of our team. His absence will be deeply felt. A great loss for the cricketing community,” Irfan Pathan said in a social media post
Under the shade of the banyan tree at the Motibag cricket ground, from his blue Maruti car, Indian captain D.K. Gaekwad sir tirelessly scouted young talent for Baroda cricket, shaping the future of our team. His absence will be deeply felt. A great loss for cricketing community.… pic.twitter.com/OYyE2ppk88
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 13, 2024
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