The Hindu : Sport : Sardesai is no more

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Tuesday, Jul 03, 2007
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Sardesai is no more

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

Dilip Sardesai.

MUMBAI: Former Test cricketer Dilip Sardesai, who was considered India’s best batsman against spin bowling, died of multiple-organ failure here on Monday. Sardesai, 67, who was admitted to the Bombay Hospital last month with chest infection, was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit on Sunday night after he developed complications. His end came late on Monday evening.

Sardesai is survived by his wife, son and noted television journalist Rajdeep, and a daughter, who is in the U.S. Suffering from kidney problems for quite some time, he had been on dialysis and had been hospitalised many times.

Born on August 8, 1940 at Margao, Sardesai made his Test debut against England at Kanpur in December 1961 and played his last Test against the same team at Delhi in December 1972. In a career spanning 11 years, Sardesai played 30 Tests and scored 2001 runs in 55 innings with an average of 39.23 with a double century and four centuries.

Stellar performance

However, he is most remembered for his stellar performance during the tour of the West Indies in 1970-71, when Sunil Gavaskar made his Test debut, by scoring a double century and two centuries that powered India to a historic first-ever series victory in the Caribbean. His selection for the tour of the West Indies came when his international career had appeared to be virtually over. Sardesai also played a key role in India’s Oval Test victory in 1971.

BCCI President Sharad Pawar and Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee condoled Sardesai’s death. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled Sardesai’s death and described him as a great sportsman. — Agencies

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