Anshuman Gaekwad Tribute: Tenacious Batsman, Straightforward Coach, and Astute Selector.

Anshuman Gaekwad, remembered as a tenacious batsman and a no-nonsense coach and selector, left an indelible mark on Indian cricket. 

Renowned for his resilience, his most memorable innings were characterised by his ability to withstand the relentless pace of the Caribbean quicks, often enduring painful blows to his body.

Former opening batsman and ex-Team India coach Anshuman Gaekwad passed away in Vadodara on Wednesday at the age of 71. A veteran of 40 Tests, Gaekwad had been suffering from blood cancer and had recently returned from treatment in London. In addition to his playing career, he also served as a selector and head coach of the national side.

Gaekwad’s prolonged illness prompted many of his former colleagues to come forward, offering financial help or urging the BCCI to release funds for his treatment. Board secretary Jay Shah recently released Rs 1 crore to assist with his medical expenses.

It’s a loss to the cricket fraternity. He was a great taskmaster, always passionate and loved talking about cricket. I had met him one month ago, and his situation wasn’t nice. We looked up to him when we were young. I played under him too,” said former India wicketkeeper Kiran More.

He never liked players arriving late at the ground. He always had a great vision for cricket and was a true student of the game. You don't find people like him anymore. He continued to contribute to the administration. He was a gem of a person and helped me during my early days in cricket. Back in those days, he was like a lion in Baroda,” More added.

I had the privilege of playing alongside three of the bravest cricketers in Indian cricket: Eknath Solkar, Mohinder 'Jimmy' Amarnath, and Anshuman Gaekwad. We had heard stories of the courage and determination of Nari Contractor, who played with a broken rib and went on to score 81 at Lord’s. This was an inspiration to aspiring cricketers, illustrating that when playing for your country, you must endure all hardships and keep fighting for your team. This is precisely what Ekki, Jimmy, and Charlie (as Anshuman was known) embodied when they wore the India cap. It's deeply saddening news, but Charlie once again showed his resilience by fighting until the very end. May his soul rest in eternal peace," said batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.

Shah also expressed his sorrow at the passing of the former cricketer. "My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Anshuman Gaekwad. This is heartbreaking for the entire cricket fraternity. May his soul rest in peace," he wrote on X.

In an international career spanning 12 years, Anshuman Gaekwad made his mark not only as a batsman but as a symbol of bravery and resilience. Featuring in 15 ODIs, Gaekwad was renowned for his gutsy performances, unflinchingly facing the fierce pace bowlers of his time and often taking blows on his body for the team's cause. While his batting might not have been characterised by flamboyant stroke-play, his courage more than compensated for it. With an average of just over 30 and two Test centuries, his record might seem modest. However, his double hundred against Pakistan in Jalandhar in 1983, an innings spanning 671 minutes, remains the slowest 200 in first-class cricket at the time. His other Test century came against the West Indies in Kanpur in 1979, against an attack that included a young Malcolm Marshall.

Gaekwad is perhaps best remembered for his sheer determination and bravery during his innings of 81 against the formidable Caribbean bowlers in the infamous 1975-76 Test in Kingston, Jamaica. Battling against the likes of Michael Holding, Wayne Daniel, Vanburn Holder, and Bernard Julien, Gaekwad's innings lasted 450 minutes before he was struck on the ear by a Holding bouncer, which punctured his eardrum and required surgery. This was in an era before helmets and bouncer restrictions, and the West Indies were determined to reassert their dominance after a perceived humiliation in the previous Test at Port of Spain, Trinidad.

His opening partner Sunil Gavaskar recalls the incident vividly in his book "Sunny Days". “On the dot of lunch, Anshuman, who had taken many blows on the body and his hands, was hit just behind the left ear. It was yet another short ball and it went like a guided missile knocking Anshuman’s spectacles off… Anshuman Gaekwad represented the splendid fighting spirit of our team. When he was forced to retire, much against his wish, our will to fight also got knocked out.”

Gaekwad also had a noteworthy stint as Team India's head coach in the latter half of the 1990s. Under his guidance, India achieved notable victories, including a 2-1 Test series win against Mark Taylor’s Australia at home and a subsequent tri-series triumph in Sharjah, where Sachin Tendulkar's back-to-back centuries, including the iconic 'Desert Storm' innings, became legendary.

Gaekwad was also the coach when Anil Kumble famously took all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999, helping India, led by Mohammad Azharuddin, to level the two-match Test series. The previous Test had been a nail-biter, with India narrowly losing by 12 runs despite a valiant century from Tendulkar.

Other highlights of Gaekwad’s coaching tenure include the 1998 Independence Cup victory in Bangladesh and India's run to the final of the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy in Kenya in 2000, where they were narrowly defeated by New Zealand.