Former India cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad passes away aged 71

Former India cricketer and head coach Anshuman Gaekwad passed away aged 71 on Wednesday, succumbing after a long battle with blood cancer.

Gaekwad had initially travelled to London for treatment was later admitted to a hospital in Vadodara.

He was in the news recently as several former cricketers, including 1983 World Cup-winning India captain Kapil Dev, had pleaded with the BCCI to assist him financially. BCCI secretary Jay Shah had later announced a relief package of Rs 1 crore for his treatment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to Gaekwad’s family after the former batter’s passing.

“Shri Anshuman Gaekwad Ji will be remembered for his contribution to cricket. He was a gifted player and an outstanding coach. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” read a statement from the Prime Minister on X.

Gaekwad’s former teammate Sandeep Patil had revealed that Gaekwad was battling with cancer in his column for Mumbai-based daily Mid-Day.

Besides Dev and Patil, several other former cricketers including batting legends Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar had reached out to the BCCI as well as to their contacts in the corporate world to try and raise funds for Gaekwad.

Dev and others were even ready to donate three months’ worth of the pension that they get from the board to try and help their former teammate out.

Legendary all-rounder Dev had also posted a heartfelt message for Gaekwad on social media just days before the latter’s demise.

“Hi Anshu, I know you are going through a rough time, but it doesn’t matter, we have all gone through rough times in life. I remember all the good days. The first time? When I played under you, you were my captain. And I remember when I was captain you got two hundred runs in Jalandhar against Pakistan, so good memories.

“Difficult times come and go, but I know that you are a fighter. Come on, cheer up and try to live a life, whatever God has given you and I wish you get better and better and be happy,” Dev said in a video just a week before Gaekwad breathed his last.

Gaekwad had represented India in 40 Tests and 15 ODIs between 1975 and 1987, scoring 1,985 runs in the Test format. That included a knock of 201 against Pakistan in 1982-83 — which was the slowest double-century in First-Class cricket at the time with the opener consuming 671 minutes for his knock.

Gaekwad had also coached the Indian team between 1997 and 2000, albeit in separate stints, which included the 1998 Coca-Cola Trophy (of the ‘Desert Storm’ fame) as well as the 1997-98 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (which India won 2-1), the 1999 ICC World Cup and the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy (then known as the ICC KnockOut Trophy, in which India finished runners-up).

He also had served as a selector and was also part of BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) along with Dev and Sharda Rangaswamy.

Gaekwad was conferred with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honour conferred by the BCCI on a former cricketer, in 2018.