“The efforts made by those players were terrific. It’s not like today…in those days, players used to get only a pound per match. There was no money in the game and not so much awareness about health, fitness or training. Despite this, they clinched the first series win in England. So, they deserve such an honour,” Rekha told mid-day on Monday.
Rekha Wadekar. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
India registered its first-ever Test series win on English soil exactly 50 years ago under the leadership of Ajit Wadekar. While the late India captain’s wife Rekha has treasured memories of that four-wicket win at the Oval on August 24, 1971, she urged the BCCI not to forget the players who fought against all odds for that maiden triumph in England.
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“BCCI should felicitate and honour those cricketers’ efforts in the 50th year of their golden achievement.
‘Terrific efforts’
“The efforts made by those players were terrific. It’s not like today…in those days, players used to get only a pound per match. There was no money in the game and not so much awareness about health, fitness or training. Despite this, they clinched the first series win in England. So, they deserve such an honour,” Rekha told mid-day on Monday.
“We won against all odds, so please don’t forget those players. We all felt that these players’ efforts should be honoured. Even [Eknath] Solkar’s wife [Sheetal] feels the same,” she remarked.
Solkar, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 57, scored 44 in the first innings and claimed three England first innings-wickets in the Oval Test. This was apart from two memorable catches in England’s second innings—Keith Fletcher and Alan Knott—as the hosts were dismissed for 101.
Outstanding Chandra
Recalling the match, Rekha said: “We were enjoying the game through radio commentary. I still remember how Chandra bowled in the second innings, claiming six wickets conceding just 38 runs. It was an outstanding effort. [Gundappa] Viswanath (33), Ajit (45) and Dilip Sardesai (40) batted in the second innings and chased the target. Farokh [Engineer] scored 28 and at the end, [Syed] Abid Ali hit that winning boundary without taking any pressure.
“Ajit shared a lot of memories with me about that victory. But, before the Test, he told me [with regards to a victory], ‘let’s see…fingers crossed.’
As we believe in God and Ganpati, we were praying for India’s victory. Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated on the final day of the Test and Ajit told me that an elephant was brought to the ground that day. So, I felt that there is something and somebody up there is wishing us, giving blessings and energy.”
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