Mumbai Cricket Legend Vasoo Paranjape bids goodbye

Tributes from the cricketing fraternity flowed thick and fast to mourn the death of Vasoo Paranjape the former Mumbai Ranji Trophy player who became a mentor to several cricketers in the city and beyondParanjape 82 passed away on Monday afternoon following a prolonged illnessIf batting legend Sunil Gavaskar is known as Sunny throughout the cricketing globe it is because Paranjape came up with that nickname for him when Gavaskar joined Dadar Union Sporting Club in the 1960s Paranjape was his captain at the club and his style of leadership and aggression won many a competition ldquoHis captaincy was as dynamic as his batting and he loved a challengerdquo wrote Gavaskar in Sunny DaysSunil Gavaskar left with MNS chief Raj Thackeray at Vasoo Paranjapersquos residence in Matunga yesterday PicSuresh KarkeraSunny pays his last respectsThe batting great was quick to reach the Paranjape residence on Monday to pay his last respects to his mentorSandeep Patil was out of town but sent midday his tribute ldquoThis is a huge loss to Mumbai and Indian cricket Apart from helping me with my cricket he was my coach at Ruia College Vasoo was the one who was highly instrumental in my marriage to Deepa It was Vasoo who organised a meeting between both our families and Irsquom ever so grateful to him He coached the Nirlon team which I was part ofrdquoVasoo ParanjapeSachin Tendulkar was another batting great to be guided by Paranjape He said in a statement ldquoVasu sir as I have always known him was one of the best coaches I have worked with He has been an integral part of my cricketing journey since childhood and a mentor in many ways Early in my career I remember him telling me in Marathi lsquoYou watch out for the first 15 minutes and the opposition will watch you for the rest of the dayrsquo He was knowledgeable lively and had a great sense of humour I had visited him a few of months ago and he was his usual humorous selfrdquoFormer Mumbai wicketkeeperbatsman and coach Sulakshan Kulkarni recalled how Paranjape gifted him a set of cricket attire when he scored a double hundred for Dadar Union in the Purshottam Shield three decades agolsquoA true friend and guidersquoldquoI wore that trouser and shirt in the 199394 Ranji Trophy semifinal against Maharashtra in Pune and scored 139 Vasu sir was a true friend philosopher and guide for merdquo said KulkarniCricket administrators recognised Paranjapersquos coaching skills and his ability to set the right bases Former BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke was one of them ldquoWhen I was a president of Maharashtra Cricket Association MCA he helped us immensely and we have a strong base because of him I have not met a man with such deep knowledge of cricketrdquo Shirke told midday from Lingfield England on MondayTweet talkDhawal Kulkarnidhawal_kulkarni Really saddened at the demise of Vasoo Sir One of the best coaches mentors I have played under Condolences to jats72 and the family God blessRavi ShastriRaviShastriOfc Really saddened at the demise of Vasoo Paranjape He was an institution in the game with a real positive vibe in whatever he did Condolences to jats72 and the family God bless his soulSanjay Manjrekarsanjaymanjrekar A truly exceptional and invaluable member of the cricket community passes away RIP Vasu Sir VasuParanjapeVinod Kamblivinodkambli349 Really sad to hear about Vasoo Paranjape ji My deepest condolences and may his soul rest in peaceAnil Kumbleanilkumble1074 Saddened to hear the passing of Vasu Paranjape Two years of my formative years at the National camp was a great learning under his tutelage He will be missed My condolences to jats72 and familyWasim JafferWasimJaffer14 Saddened to know that Vasu sir is no more Heartfelt condolences to jats72 and family Vasu sir always found a way to make those around him laugh He will live on through his teachings and stories RIPKiran MoreJockMore RIP VASU SIR Om Shanti