Aunshuman Gaekwad dedicated his life to cricket. His final days were a testament to his resilience. He faced the fiercest fast bowlers on the pitch and the most dreaded opponent off it — cancer. Despite the challenges, he never backed down and bravely bowed out.
What set Gaekwad apart was his selflessness and reliability. He was a man of few critics, known for his honesty and caring nature. He was the friend who never said ‘No,’ always there when needed. His presence was a precious gift to cherish.
Mohinder Amarnath and Kapil Dev were his closest friends in the cricket fraternity. He adored Sunil Gavaskar and GR Vishwanath. Gaekwad remained in awe of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, his first Test captain, and doted on Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar. But he rarely talked about himself.
Pataudi was a “friendly terror.” When asked to report to Pataudi in Calcutta for the Test against the West Indies in 1974, Gaekwad promptly presented himself to the captain. “I rang his doorbell and asked him what I should do.” Pataudi’s reply floored him: “Find out for yourself. No one told me when I made my debut.” As Gaekwad discovered, it was a prank by Pataudi, who wanted the young cricketer from Baroda to back himself.
ALSO READ | Indian cricket legend Aunshuman Gaekwad passes away at 71
When Pataudi passed away in 2011, Gaekwad, who received the news late at night, took an early morning flight to reach Pataudi’s home village to attend the final rites. His respect for the iconic cricketer was immense. Though he enjoyed smoking, Gaekwad never did so in Pataudi’s presence. He belonged to the old school, where a captain, guru, or teacher was revered.
His name always rekindled memories of a dogged and fearless individual. Although he was not the most attractive batsman to watch, he was the captain’s first choice because of his ability to blunt an attack. He loved dropping the ball dead at his feet and checking the bowler’s expressions. “It was my favorite pastime to convey to the bowler that his best effort to get me out was futile,” he once told Sportstar.
One such gesture nearly proved fatal for him.
Sabina Park, 1976. The West Indies were on a vengeful trip to harm the Indians. “It was in the air. The West Indian aggression was not to be missed,” Gaekwad recalled. One ball from Michael Holding hit him on the fingers, and he was in excruciating pain. Gaekwad angered the bowler with an inappropriate gesture with his finger. The next ball, bowled from around the stump, was dug short and fast. It struck him behind the ear, smashed his spectacles, and sent him to the hospital. “I thought my cricket and life were over.”
Gaekwad fought back. His first six Tests were against the West Indies. Six months after the injury, he was back in his position as Gavaskar’s opening partner against New Zealand in Bombay. He featured in 40 Tests and was a gross underachiever for a batsman with a first-class career that spanned 22 years.
His debut came in 1970 against a Maharashtra team that included Chandu Borde, Chetan Chauhan, and Hemant Kanitkar. In 1992, his farewell game against Gujarat took him to his beloved Moti Bagh Stadium in Baroda. At 40, he celebrated with knocks of 143 and 10, unbeaten on both occasions. He soon stepped into a new role as a national selector and did a fine job.
Some of my favorite memories with Gaekwad came during his stint as team coach. The Desert Storm episode in Sharjah in 1998 stands out. He told Tendulkar, “I want the trophy,” and the maestro did not let him down with two back-to-back centuries. Tendulkar held Gaekwad in high esteem.
Sachin Tendulkar and Aunshuman Gaekwad assessing the performance of the players during the practice session at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Photo Credit: V.V. Krishnan/ The Hindu
A year later, at the 1999 World Cup in England, Gaekwad confessed to facing the “biggest challenge” of his cricketing career — breaking the news of Tendulkar’s father’s demise. Upon receiving the news, Gaekwad took Tendulkar’s wife, Anjali, into confidence to convey the dreaded development. Tendulkar broke down in Gaekwad’s arms before leaving for his father’s cremation. But he returned to serve the team.
Gaekwad had a special relationship with Tendulkar and Azharuddin. He was a fan of their batting styles. Both added to Gaekwad’s hobby of collecting wristwatches as a tribute to his guidance. “I don’t wear them. They sit in my drawing room,” Gaekwad revealed when I visited his home in Baroda.
Gaekwad’s tastefully decorated residence reflects his persona. “It is all the work of [my wife] Jyoti,” he insisted. “My job is to take care of the garden. All my vegetables are homegrown.” He also proudly pointed to a peacock, which would strut into his kitchen every morning and leave after what Gaekwad called a “pitch inspection.”
FILE PHOTO: Cricket advisory committee members Kapil Dev with Anshuman Geakwad and Shanta Rangaswamy addressing a press conference after selecting coach for the Indian cricket team in Mumbai on August 16, 2019. Photo: Vivek Bendre | Photo Credit: VIVEK BENDRE
After serving as a player, selector, and coach for the Board, Gaekwad took up assignments with the Gujarat Cricket Association and later became a member of BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee. However, he was dissatisfied with these roles and eventually found a way to share his views as a media expert. His honest analysis and straightforward approach earned him respect in the industry.
My last two meetings with Gaekwad were in Mumbai — in May 2023, at his book launch at the Cricket Club of India, and two months later, at an event organized by my journalist friend Dwarkanath Sanzgiri to celebrate Tendulkar’s 50th birthday.
A galaxy of cricketers turned up for his book launch. Kapil, Dilip Vengsarkar, Gavaskar, Roger Binny, Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Vishwanath, Karsan Ghavri, Abey Kuruvilla, Nayan Mongia, and Yajurvindra Singh lent their support to Gaekwad.
“He has given Indian cricket everything as a player, coach, administrator, selector — you name it, and he has done it all. That he is not only liked by players from his time but also those who came after his time as a cricketer is a tribute to how well-liked Aunshu is,” Gavaskar said. “He was my opening partner; we had some interesting times. Between the two of us, we never got each other run out. That’s why we are on talking terms and can pull each other’s legs.”
ALSO READ | Remembering Aunshuman Gaekwad: an epitome of courage, empathy and laughter
Tendulkar recalled Gaekwad’s preference for spicy food. “I remember during our 1998-99 tour to New Zealand, we went to a restaurant, and I said, ‘Let’s order pasta or chicken.’ He said he does not like bland food at all. So Aunshu bhai asks the chef for the spiciest chili sauce. The chef says, ‘Would you be able to handle it? It’s extremely spicy.’ He says, ‘Make it as spicy as possible and get it.’ The chef brought the sauce, which I tasted a little bit. It was so spicy that I could barely finish a quarter of a spoon with my entire meal. Aunshu bhai finished two bowls of the sauce. The chef couldn’t believe it. That’s when I realized it wasn’t just fiery bowling he could handle, but also the food.”
Gaekwad appeared unwell in July. His tired look did not match his personality. Gaekwad was always a fit man, and only a routine check revealed the dreaded disease that was to consume him.
Gaekwad was advised to go to London for treatment but returned home disappointed. His long-time friend, Amarnath, visited Gaekwad and took it upon himself to raise funds for the treatment with help from Gavaskar, Sandeep Patil, and Kapil. Amarnath described Gaekwad as “a great batsman, a dear friend, and a lovely human being.”
Throughout his life, Gaekwad experienced hurt and disappointment from the cricketing community at various points. Still, his kind-hearted nature prevented him from holding any grudges, even against the man who nearly ended his life on the pitch. Gaekwad affectionately referred to Holding as “Mikey” and considered him a friend. That was Aunshuman Dattajirao Gaekwad — an unflinching batsman and a trusted friend. He was 71.
Comments
SHARE