Anshuman Gaekwad, a former Indian cricketer and national head coach, passed away at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with blood cancer. Gaekwad, who had recently been in London, died in Baroda following a brief stay in the ICU due to various health issues.
During his career, Gaekwad played 40 Test matches and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987. After retiring as a player, he became a selector and later served as the national team's coach.
As a batsman, Gaekwad scored 1,985 runs in 70 Test innings, including a memorable 201 against Pakistan in the 1982-83 series, which remains one of the slowest double-centuries in first-class cricket, spanning 671 minutes. Another notable achievement was his courageous 81-run innings against the West Indies in Jamaica, facing a formidable bowling attack led by Michael Holding. These innings were especially remarkable as theyoccurred during a time when players did not wear helmets, and there were no restrictions on bouncers. Gaekwad's eardrum was punctured by a bouncer from Holding, necessitating surgery—an experience he detailed in his autobiography 'Guts Amid Bloodbath,' released in May 2023.
Gaekwad had two separate stints as India's head coach between 1997 and 2000. He initially took over during Sachin Tendulkar's era, guiding the team through a transitional phase. He later returned briefly during the match-fixing scandal after Kapil Dev's resignation while a permanent coach was being selected. During his tenure, India achieved significant victories, including winning the Independence Cup, a 2-1 home series win against Australia, Anil Kumble's historic 10-wicket haul against Pakistan, and reaching the final of the ICC Knockout Trophy in 2000.
BCCI president Roger Binny paid tribute, stating, "Anshuman Gaekwad's passing is a significant loss for Indian cricket. His dedication, resilience, and passion for the game were unmatched. He was more than just a cricketer; he was a mentor and friend to many. The cricketing community will deeply miss him, and his contributions will be cherished forever."
Earlier this month, the BCCI provided INR 1 crore for Gaekwad's treatment, following appeals from Kapil Dev and Sandeep Patil.