Former Indian cricketer Ajit Wadekar passed away due to prolonged illness in Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital, on Wednesday. The former captain of the Indian cricket team passed away at the age of 77. Wadekar won Sportsperson of the Year Award, CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, and also won the Castrol Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian Cricket.
The legendary cricketer was born in Bombay on April 1, 1941. Wadekar began his first-class career in the year 1958. However, despite scoring heap of runs in the domestic circuit, Wadekar was able to make his Test debut, eight years later, in the year 1966.
Watch Ajit Wadekar talk about his Test Debut, Early Days in this Video:
In his cricketing career, Ajit Wadekar played 37 Test matches. In those 37 Tests, he scored 2,113 runs at an average of 31.07. The left-handed batsman scored a century and 14 half-centuries in his Test career.
In his ODI career, Wadekar played only a couple of matches in which he scored 73 runs, which included a half century. Known for his stupendous skills while fielding, he was regarded as one of the best slip fielders, India has ever produced.
Watch Ajit Wadekar’s Video Where He Recalls Memories of Cricket of the Bygone Era:
Ajit Wadekar also served as the Manager of the Indian cricket team, and Chairman of Selection Committee during his lifetime. Wadekar was honoured with prestigious Arjuna Award and Padmashri Award in 1967 and 1972 respectively, for his contribution in the field of sports. It comes as a sad news for a cricket fan to hear about the demise of a sportsperson of great stature.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2018 12:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).