Former Indian cricket team captain and coach Ajit Wadekar, 77, passed away at the Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai. He was, reportedly, suffering from prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Rekha, two sons and a daughter.
Wadekar made his first-class debut in 1958-59 but had to wait eight years before playing for India in 1966-67. One of India's greatest no. 3 batsmen and finest slip fielders, Wadekar will always be remembered for leading Team India to historic series wins in England and the West Indies in 1971. In fact, batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar made his debut in that series against the West Indies.
However, he was forced to retire after a disastrous tour of England in 1974. Wadekar played 37 Tests, scoring 2,113 runs at an average of 31.07. He also represented India in two ODIs. He had an impressive first-class career, scoring 15,380 runs in 237 matches notching up 36 hundreds and 84 fifties.
Wadekar rekindled his association with the Indian cricket team, serving as its coach from 1992 to 1996. He was one of the earliest full-time coaches. He had a successful partnership with the then Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin, and under them India emerged as a strong team at home.
In 2007, however, Wadekar joined the rebel Indian Cricket League as a match referee but came back to the BCCI fold two years later. He went on to become the chairman of selectors, too.
Wadekar was given the Arjuna Award in 1967 and honoured with the Padma Shri in 1972.