IndiaPost.com - Former Test cricketer Sardesai dead

MUMBAI: Former Test batsman Dilip Sardesai, best remembered for his stellar display in India's historic Test series victory in the West Indies in 1971, died here due to multiple organ failure.

Sardesai, 67, is survived by wife Nandini, well-known TV journalist son Rajdeep and a daughter based in the US. Sardesai was admitted to Bombay hospital late last month with chest infection and seemed to be recovering before things turned for the worse.

"He was re-admitted to the ICU after developing complications and the end came late this evening," said Mumbai Cricket Association treasurer and CAO of the Cricket Board, Prof Ratnakar Shetty. Suffering from kidney problems for a long time, he had been on dialysis and had been off-and-on in and out of hospital.

In his Test career stretching from 1961 to 1972-73, the Goa-born former middle order batsman and occasional opener scored 2001 runs in 30 Tests at an average of 39.23 that included five centuries (two double hundreds in it).

Sardesai made his debut in Kanpur against England in 1961 and played his last Test against the same opponents in 1972 before he became a selector for Mumbai, for which he did yeoman service as a player. Apart from the 642 runs he amassed against the West Indies, Sardesai will also be remembered for his role in India's Test series win over New Zealand in 1965 at home.

Born on August 8, 1940 at Margao, Goa, 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. During a career spanning 11 years, Sardesai played 30 Tests and scored 2001 runs in 55 innings with an average of 39.23.

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 hitting up 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 the summer of 1971. Sardesai was known for his immaculate footwork, especially against the spinners and a sound defense that was a model for many aspiring cricketers.