Five Facts About Former Team India Skipper Ajit Wadekar
Published - 17 Aug 2018, 06:52 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:54 PM
After succumbing to prolonged illness, Ajit Wadekar passed away at Jaslok Hospital in South Mumbai. Cricket fraternity took distinct media platforms to express shock over the death of former Team India skipper.
The former skipper has achieved many historical wins in overseas tour in the year 1971.
In addition, India got a historic series win over Windies and England on their home soil.
Late Wadekar represented India in 37 games of extended format. But he dominated the 22-yard field in his way and made a significant impact on the history of Indian cricket team.
Following are some esteemed top five facts of the former skipper:
(1) It was former skipper of India MAK Pataudi who instilled the beliefs of Test victories in the Indian team.
However, things were different when it came to overseas Test wins. It was Wadekar, who eventually filled the zeal and enthusiasm in Indian cricket team to get their first series win in an overseas tour. He was the skipper who got first win over England in 1971.
(2) Interestingly, Wadekar gave the debut cap to many Indian great cricketers. Those cricketers include – Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Vishwanath, S Venkatraghavan and Bishan Singh Bedi. It was Wadekar under whom these cricketers flourished their career.
(3) There are many Indian skippers like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev and Nawab Pataudi who are hailed as great Indian skippers. However, it was Ajit Wadekar to whom Sunil Gavaskar once referred as the greatest skipper.
(4) It was Ajit Wadekar under whom India achieved its most great overseas win ever. Additionally, he inspired young and inexperienced cricketers that eventually beat Windies.
Although, hosts were having the likes of Sir Garry Sobers, Clive Llyod, and Roy Fredericks it was Wadekar and company that took the series home.
(5) Ajit Wadekar holds a historical record of leading the Team India on its debut match in One-day International.
But he is only the third cricketer apart from Lala Amarnath and Chandu Borde, who has become captain, manager, and chief selector once in his lifetime.
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