Oldest living Indian test cricketer Dattajirao Gaekwad passes away aged 95

Dattajirao Gaekwad represented India in 11 tests from 1952 to 1961.

India’s oldest living test cricketer Dattajirao Gaekwad passed away at his residence in Baroda on Tuesday, 13th February. Former Indian top-order batsman Dattajirao Gaekwad was 95 years old when he breathed his last. A close source from his family informed News agency PTI that Dattajirao Gaekwaad had been battling for his life in ICU of a hospital in Baroda for the past 12 days. Since 2016, he was the oldest living Indian test cricketer.

Dattajirao Gaekwad represented India in 50s. He played 11 test matches for India and scored 350 runs in 20 innings. He made his debut against England at Headingley in 1952. He could only manage to score one half-century in his test career. Gaekwad played his final test match against Pakistan at Chepauk in 1961. He played his career-best innings against West Indies in Delhi in 1959 when he notched up his only half-century (52).

Irfan Prathan reacted after the tragic news

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan also tweeted after the news of Gaekwad’s demise. Pathan posted in social media platform X (formerly twitter), “Under the shade of the banyan tree at the Motibag cricket ground, from his blue Maruti car, Indian captain D.K. Gaekwad sir tirelessly scouted young talent for Baroda cricket, shaping the future of our team. His absence will be deeply felt. A great loss for cricketing community.”

Under the shade of the banyan tree at the Motibag cricket ground, from his blue Maruti car, Indian captain D.K. Gaekwad sir tirelessly scouted young talent for Baroda cricket, shaping the future of our team. His absence will be deeply felt. A great loss for cricketing community.… pic.twitter.com/OYyE2ppk88

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 13, 2024

Dattajirao Gaekwad also led India in four test matches against England in the 1959 tour. India failed to win a single game under Gaekwad’s leadership. He represented Baroda in Indian domestic cricket and played 110 First Class (FC) matches. In FC cricket, Gaekwad scored 5788 runsincluding 17 centuries. He also picked up 25 wickets in FC cricket.

His son Anshuman Gaekwad also went on to represent India at international level. Anshuman Gaekwad played 40 tests and 15 ODI games in his career. Anshuman Gaekwad also went on to coach the Indian team twice. Dattajirao Gaekwaad became India’s oldest living cricketer in 2016 overtaking Deepak Sodhan. Deepak Sodhan died at the age of 87 in 2016.

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