Former India opener and Team India coach Anshuman Gaekwad passed away at the age of 71 after battling cancer for a year. He was diagnosed of Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in June last year and was admitted in a private hospital for the last few weeks.
“Gaekwad passed away about 9.30 pm. The doctors hadn’t given him much time but he was a fighter who didn’t give up till his last breath. His contribution to Indian cricket was immense,” said Satyajit Gaekwad, chairman, press and publicity committee, Baroda Cricket Association (BCA).
Son of former Indian team captain D K Gaekwad, he made his Test debut in 1974 against West Indies in Kolkata. Known to be a feisty batsman, Gaekwad played 40 Test and scored 1,985 runs. He scored two centuries but his finest effort came against Pakistan when he scored 201 in Jalandhar in 1982-83. He also played 15 ODIs. Gaekwad became the coach of the Indian team twice – first in 1997 and then in 2000.
Gaekwad became the secretary of BCA in 2013. He later resigned from the post owing to differences with the BCA management. Gaekwad was part of the IPL’s governing council in 2022 as a representative of the Indian Cricketers’ Association. A few months ago, Gaekwad was admitted to the Kings Hospital in London for his cancer treatment. He had written to the BCCI for financial help to meet the medical expenses incurred in the London hospital. The cricket board had recently announced £ 100,000 financial help for Gaekwad.
