Former Indian cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad passed away at the age of 71 at the Bhailal Amin General Hospital in Vadodara on July 31, following an extended battle with blood cancer.
Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India had granted INR 1 crore to aid Gaekwad's medical treatment after it became apparent that he was grappling with financial difficulties to cover the expenses in London. He was subsequently repatriated to India, where his treatment continued at Vadodara.
Renowned for his resilience and determination against pacers, as well as his raw courage against formidable pace attacks - a virtue that arguably got him to make a breakthrough in the team - Gaekwad was a steadfast top-order batter in his golden years. His career-defining innings of 201 against Pakistan was a monumental feat, as he spent over 11 hours at the crease, epitomizing exceptional reserves of concentration and patience.
Gaekwad represented India in 40 Tests, scoring two centuries and ten fifties, with a career average of 30.07. His First Class career statistics were even more impressive, as he amassed over 12,000 runs at an average exceeding 40, including 34 centuries, 47 fifties and 160 catches as well.
After retiring from all forms of cricket in 1992, Gaekwad transitioned into coaching and soon assumed the helm of the men's national team from 1997 to 1999. This period, however, did not yield significant success for the national side, leading to his resignation and subsequent replacement by the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.
Gaekwad also had a brief tenure with the Kenyan men's national team and was offered a full-time role in 2009, which he declined for personal reasons. In recognition of his contributions to cricket, he was honored with the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the BCCI in 2018.
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