The Board of Control for Cricket in India has released condolences on the sad demise of former Indian cricket team captain Ajit Wadker
BCCI condoles the sad demise of Ajit Wadekar, the Indian cricket board has stated in a Press release. The former India captain Wadekar was 77. He breathed his last on August 15, 2018, in Mumbai.
Amitabh Choudhary, Acting Hon. Secretary of the BCCI remembered him for the vast contributions he made to Indian cricket. He said, “His demise has left a big void. First as a batsman and then as captain, he took Indian Cricket to new heights and then continued to contribute as a coach, manager, and chairman of selectors. The experience he gained during his playing days was used in man-management as coach and manager, overseeing a highly successful period.”
Rahul Johri, CEO of the BCCI expressed his views on the former great. He said, “He will always be remembered as the Renaissance Man of Indian cricket. The West Indies and England were two extremely strong teams and beating them in their backyard was almost impossible. Wadekar’s inspiring leadership made it a glorious summer for Indian cricket. It instilled belief in everybody and Indian cricket has since made steady progress.”
An attacking batsman and a shrewd leader, it was under his captaincy that India won their first-ever Test series in West Indies and England in 1971. While it was his leadership that stood out on the twin tours and also at home the next year in 1972-73 where India again beat England, Wadekar had made an impact earlier with the bat resulting in another breakthrough overseas series win.
During India’s Tour of New Zealand in 1968, the left-handed top-order batsman was the highest scorer in both innings (80 and 71) of the opening Test that India won by five wickets. In the third Test at Wellington, he made 143 helping India secure their second victory in the series. India also won the fourth Test and lifted the four-match Test series 3-1, registering their first-ever overseas Test series win.
Wadekar represented India in 37 Tests and scored 2,113 runs. He amassed a staggering 15,380 first-class runs from 237 matches. He also led India in two ODIs and those were also the first two ODIs that India played. Post his playing career, Wadekar remained associated with the game and served Indian cricket in various capacities as coach, manager and chairman of selectors.
The Government of India honoured him with the Arjuna Award in 1967 and Padma Shri in 1972. The BCCI had conferred him with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award in 2011.
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