After a protracted fight with blood cancer, Anshuman Gaekwad, the former Indian batter and head coach, passed away at the age of 71. Gaekwad passed away in Baroda following a brief stay in the ICU as a result of multiple health issues. Gaekwad was in London until last month.
From 1975 to 1987, Gaekwad participated in 40 Test matches and 15 One-Day Internationals for India. He then went on to serve as a selector and eventually the team’s coach.
Gaekwad was a hitter who amassed 1985 runs from 70 Test innings. His best score came in 1982–1983, when he patiently batted for 671 minutes, which at the time was the slowest double-century in first-class cricket history.
In addition, he is well-known for making 81 runs in Jamaica against a West Indies team that included Michael Holding in their assault. This achievement is all the more remarkable given that it occurred during a time when neither bouncer regulations nor helmets were in place. Gaekwad was stung in the ear by a Holding bouncer, puncturing his eardrum, necessitating surgery. He went into considerable detail about the incident in his May 2023 book, “Guts Amid Bloodbath.”
Between 1997 and 2000, Gaekwad served as India’s coach twice. First appointed during the Sachin Tendulkar era, he supervised a period of transition. Later, he returned for a brief amount of time during the match-fixing controversy, following Kapil Dev’s departure, while a permanent replacement was being chosen.
During his tenure, India achieved several notable successes, including winning the Independence Cup, defeating Australia 2-1 at home, tying the Test series at home with Pakistan thanks to Anil Kumble’s 10-wicket haul, and drawing the ODI series in New Zealand. At the behest of the then-BCCI president AC Muthiah, he returned to lead them to the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy final, when they were defeated by New Zealand.
The BCCI president, Roger Binny, paid tribute, saying, “Indian cricket is greatly saddened by the demise of Anshuman Gaekwad. His passion for the game, tenacity, and devotion to it were unmatched. He was not only a cricket player but also a friend and mentor to many. He will be sorely missed by the cricket community, and his contributions will live on forever.”
Following requests from Kapil and Sandeep Patil, the BCCI allocated INR 1 crore to fund Gaekwad’s medical care earlier this month.