Anshuman Gakewad Career Profile Stats and Death
Anshuman Gaekwad, a former Indian cricketer and coach, passed away on July 31, 2024, after a battle with blood cancer. Anshuman Gaekwad was a notable figure in Indian cricket, renowned for his defensive capability and significant contributions both on and off the field. Born on September 23, 1952, in Mumbai, Gaekwad developed a reputation as a resilient and technically sound right-handed batsman. His cricketing journey began seriously when he made his Test debut for India on December 27, 1974, against the West Indies in Kolkata.
He also famously made 81 in Jamaica against a West Indies side boasting the likes of Michael Holding in its attack - a feat rendered particularly impressive by the fact that it came in an era when there were neither helmets nor restrictions on bouncers. Gaekwad had to have an operation after he was stung on the ear by a Holding bouncer that punctured his eardrum.
Over a decade-long career, he played 40 Test matches, accumulating 1985 runs at an average of 30.07 including 2 hundred and 10 fifties. His highest Test score of 201 came against Pakistan in 1983, a testament to his patience and concentration, as he batted for 671 minutes, one of the longest innings in First-Class cricket history.
Gaekwad with a height of 5’11 also played 15 One Day Internationals (ODIs), scoring 269 runs at an average of 20.69 with a top score of 78*. His career in ODIs, though less illustrious than his Test career. However, his performances showcased his adaptability and skill in different formats of the game. He was known affectionately as "The Great Wall," Gaekwad's defensive style was particularly effective against the formidable pace attacks of the West Indies, a period when their bowlers were considered the best in the world. This defensive approach earned him respect and admiration from cricket enthusiasts and peers alike.
Anshuman Gaekwad had an impressive First-Class cricket career, gathering 12,136 runs in 206 matches at an average of 41.56, which included 34 centuries and 47 half-centuries. His highest score in First-Class cricket was 225. In List A cricket, he played 55 matches, scoring 1,1601 runs at an average of 32.57, with 2 centuries and 12 half-centuries, his highest List A score being 111*. Gaekwad's consistency and reliability in these formats underlined his value as a top-order batsman in the domestic cricket circuit.
Beyond his playing days, Gaekwad made substantial contributions as a coach and administrator. He served as the Indian national cricket coach twice, first from 1997 to 1999 and then briefly in 2000. His tenure as coach was marked by efforts to rebuild and strengthen the team during challenging times.
Among India's high points during his tenure were the Independence Cup victory, a 2-1 home series win against Australia, Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul against Pakistan to level the Test series at home, and a drawn ODI series in New Zealand. Gaekwad's coaching career included significant moments such as guiding
He also famously made 81 in Jamaica against a West Indies side boasting the likes of Michael Holding in its attack - a feat rendered particularly impressive by the fact that it came in an era when there were neither helmets nor restrictions on bouncers. Gaekwad had to have an operation after he was stung on the ear by a Holding bouncer that punctured his eardrum.
Over a decade-long career, he played 40 Test matches, accumulating 1985 runs at an average of 30.07 including 2 hundred and 10 fifties. His highest Test score of 201 came against Pakistan in 1983, a testament to his patience and concentration, as he batted for 671 minutes, one of the longest innings in First-Class cricket history.
Gaekwad with a height of 5’11 also played 15 One Day Internationals (ODIs), scoring 269 runs at an average of 20.69 with a top score of 78*. His career in ODIs, though less illustrious than his Test career. However, his performances showcased his adaptability and skill in different formats of the game. He was known affectionately as "The Great Wall," Gaekwad's defensive style was particularly effective against the formidable pace attacks of the West Indies, a period when their bowlers were considered the best in the world. This defensive approach earned him respect and admiration from cricket enthusiasts and peers alike.
Anshuman Gaekwad had an impressive First-Class cricket career, gathering 12,136 runs in 206 matches at an average of 41.56, which included 34 centuries and 47 half-centuries. His highest score in First-Class cricket was 225. In List A cricket, he played 55 matches, scoring 1,1601 runs at an average of 32.57, with 2 centuries and 12 half-centuries, his highest List A score being 111*. Gaekwad's consistency and reliability in these formats underlined his value as a top-order batsman in the domestic cricket circuit.
Beyond his playing days, Gaekwad made substantial contributions as a coach and administrator. He served as the Indian national cricket coach twice, first from 1997 to 1999 and then briefly in 2000. His tenure as coach was marked by efforts to rebuild and strengthen the team during challenging times.
Among India's high points during his tenure were the Independence Cup victory, a 2-1 home series win against Australia, Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul against Pakistan to level the Test series at home, and a drawn ODI series in New Zealand. Gaekwad's coaching career included significant moments such as guiding
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00:00Anshuman Gaikwad, a former Indian cricketer and coach, passed away on July 31, 2024 after
00:10a battle with blood cancer.
00:11Anshuman Gaikwad was a notable figure in Indian cricket history, renowned for his defensive
00:17technique and significant contribution both on and off the field.
00:22Born on September 23, 1952 in Mumbai, Gaikwad developed a reputation as a resilient and
00:29technically sound right-handed baseman.
00:32His cricketing journey began seriously when he made his test debut for India on December
00:3727, 1974 against the West Indies in Kolkata.
00:42He also made famously 81 runs in Jamaica against a West Indies side, boosting the likes of
00:48Michael Holden in its attack, a feat rendered particularly impressive by the fact that it
00:54came in an era when there were neither helmets nor restrictions on bouncers.
00:59Gaikwad had to have an operation after he was stung on by the ear by Michael Holden's
01:05bouncer that punctured his eardrum.
01:07Over a decade-long career, Anshuman Gaikwad played 40 test matches, accumulating 1,985
01:16runs at an average of 30.07, including 200s and 1050s.
01:21His highest test score of 201 came against Pakistan in 1983, a testament to his patience
01:28and concentration, as he batted for 671 minutes, one of the longest innings in first-class
01:35cricket history.
01:36Gaikwad, with a height of 5'11", also played 15 one-day internationals, scoring 269 runs
01:43at an average of 20.69, with a top score of 78 not out.
01:49His career in ODI is though less illustrious than his test career.
01:53However, his performance showcased his adaptability and skill in different formats of the game.
01:59He was also known affectionately as the Great Ball.
02:03Gaikwad's defensive style was particularly effective against the formidable pace attack
02:08of the Western days, a period when their ballers were considered the best in the world.
02:13This defensive approach earned him respect and admiration from cricket enthusiasts and
02:19peers alike.
02:20Anshuman Gaikwad had an impressive first-class cricket career, gathering 12,136 runs in 206
02:28matches at an average of 41.56, which included 34 centuries and 47 half-centuries.
02:36His highest score in first-class cricket was 225.
02:39In list cricket, he played 55 matches, scoring 1,601 runs at an average of 32.57, with two
02:48centuries and 12 half-centuries.
02:50His highest assist score being 111, not out.
02:53Anshuman Gaikwad's consistency and reliability in these formats underlined his value as a
02:59top-order best man in the domestic cricket circuit.
03:02Beyond his playing days, Gaikwad made substantial contributions as a coach and administrator.
03:08He served as the Indian national cricket coach twice, first from 1997 to 1999 and then briefly
03:15in 2000.
03:16His tenure as coach was marked by the efforts to rebuild and strengthen the team during
03:22challenging times.
03:23Among India's high points during his tenure were the Independence Cup victory, a 2-1 home
03:29series win against Australia, Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul against Pakistan to level the
03:35Test series at home, and Adron's ODI series in New Zealand.
03:39Anshuman Gaikwad's coaching career included significant moments as India's guiding India
03:45to the final of the 2000 ICC Champions' Trophy.
03:48He was also a national spectre between 1992 and 1996, a role in which he had to make tough
03:55decisions, including convincingly the legendary Kapil Dev to retire in 1994.
04:01Anshuman Gaikwad's legacy extends to his contributions off the field as well.
04:06In 2018, he received the prestigious Sikkim Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award from the
04:13recognising his enduring impact on Indian cricket.
04:16On the personal front, Gaikwad hailed from a cricketing family.
04:20His father, Datta Gaikwad, was also an Indian Test cricketer, who played 11 Test matches
04:25between 1952 to 1961.
04:28Anshuman was married to Jyoti Gaikwad and they had two sons.
04:33One of his sons followed in his father's footsteps, playing cricket for Baroda in the
04:37Ranji Trophy.
04:39Anshuman Gaikwad had deep roots in the Baroda royal family, adding a rich historical dimension
04:45to his life story.
04:47Sadly, Anshuman Gaikwad passed away on July 31, 2024, after battling blood cancer.
04:54His passing marked the end of an era for the cricketer, who had not only excelled on the
04:59field but had also played a pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian cricket through
05:04his coaching and administrative efforts.
05:07Belonging to the royal family of Baroda, he maintained elegance at all times and hardly
05:12lost his cool in challenging times.
05:14Kiran Moray, a former Indian wicketkeeper and ex-chairman of the National Selection
05:19Committee, recalled how growing up in Baroda, he was impressed by the Gaikwad's demeanour.