On Day 3 of the Rajkot Test, Team India will wear black armbands to honour the late Dattajirao Gaekwad, a former Indian cricketer who recently passed away.
Gaekwad, who played 11 Tests between 1952 and 1961, led the Indian team during the 1959 England tour. Acknowledged for his exceptional defensive skills, powerful drives, and versatility as a fielder, Gaekwad made significant contributions to Indian cricket.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared the update on social media, stating, “#TeamIndia will be wearing black armbands in memory of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer who passed away recently.
” Gaekwad, initially an opener, transitioned to the middle order over his 10-year career, and his final appearance for India was against Pakistan at home in 1961.
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In addition to his international achievements, Gaekwad played a pivotal role for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy from 1947 to 1961. His leadership guided Baroda to victory in the 1957-58 season, securing the Ranji Trophy by defeating Services in the final.
Gaekwad’s contributions extended to scoring 5788 runs and 17 centuries in all first-class cricket, with a notable high score of 249 not out against Maharashtra in 1959-60.
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After the passing of Deepak Shodhan in 2016, Gaekwad held the title of India’s oldest living Test cricketer until his recent demise. Chingleput Gopinath, a cricketer from Chennai aged 93, now holds that distinction. Dattajirao Gaekwad passed away on a Tuesday morning after more than a 10-day battle for life in the ICU of a Baroda hospital. His cricket journey began with Bombay University and the Maharaja Sayaji University in Baroda.
