02 July,2011 07:14 AM IST | | Clayton Murzello
As India battles away in the Barbados Test, MiD DAY recalls Dilip Sardesai's caribbean exploits of 1971 on his death anniversary
An Indian cricket team playing in the West Indies inevitably brings back memories of Ajit Wadekar's victorious team of 1971. Sunil Gavaskar's 774-run tally became synonymous with that series. So should Dilip Sardesai's 642 runs that got him the 'Renaissance man of Indian cricket' title.
Dilip Sardesai strikes a pose. Pic/MiD DAY archives
Today is Sardesai's fourth death anniversary and it's a poignant time for the departed batman's family. The Barbados Test is on, and it was in this town that Sardesai in 1971, helped India earn their solitary Test draw at the Kensington Oval.
Well done, BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India have done well to institute an India vs West Indies man of the series trophy in Sardesai's honour and at next year's BCCI Awards function, there will be two recipients since WI visit India later this year. Forty years ago, in the fourth Test at Barbados, Sardesai (150) put on 186 with Eknath Solkar for the seventh wicket and 62 with Bishan Singh Bedi for the tenth wicket. Gavaskar's unbeaten 117 in the second innings thwarted West Indies in their bid to draw level after India won the second Test at Port of Spain by seven wickets. Sardesai's wife, Nandini recalled how she would get the news of her late husband's scores after waking up each morning since there was no television coverage back then. "If a hundred was hit on a Tuesday, one would only read about it on Thursday morning. I remember reading writer K N Prabhu's dispatches. He who brought you closer to the action despite the huge distance," she said.
"Dilip used to call home from during the tour and we would also keep in touch through letters. I got very close to the Gavaskar family in 1971. On one of our visits, Sunil's sister Kavita, who later married Gundappa Vishwanath, took my little son Rajdeep to the movies," recalled Nandini.
Everyone seems to miss Sardesai ufffd his passion for the game, humour and above all, his good self. And if MS Dhoni's men give India their first Test win at Barbados in nine attempts, there'll be a special gallery up in heaven applauding ufffd Sardesai, opening batsman Ashok Mankad, wicketkeeper P Krishnamurthy, batting stylist ML Jaisimha and the quicksilver Eknath Solkar.
Dial 212 for Sardee
FORMER Mumbai captain Shishir Hattangadi recalled how he never forgot Dilip Sardesai's telephone number when the batting great was staying at Cuffe Parade. "Sardesai was chairman of selectors when I was captain of the Mumbai under-22 team. We used to discuss cricket often over the phone. I once asked him how do I remember his number and he said, 'if you remember my double century in the West Indies, you will remember it.' His number was 212 124 and 212 was his score in the Kingston Test. I have never forgotten it," said Hattangadi.
