Cricket community mourns Wadekar's demise

Former Indian captain Ajit Wadekar passed away on Wednesday night in Mumbai due to prolonged illness.

Published : Aug 16, 2018 00:05 IST , NEW DELHI

"Wadekar Sir’s presence in the dressing room had a great calming impact during crisis. He made no needless demands of the players because he knew the strengths and weaknesses of an individual," former India captain Mohammed Azaharuddin said.
"Wadekar Sir’s presence in the dressing room had a great calming impact during crisis. He made no needless demands of the players because he knew the strengths and weaknesses of an individual," former India captain Mohammed Azaharuddin said.
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"Wadekar Sir’s presence in the dressing room had a great calming impact during crisis. He made no needless demands of the players because he knew the strengths and weaknesses of an individual," former India captain Mohammed Azaharuddin said.

In Ajit Wadekar’s death, Indian cricket on Wednesday lost a “father figure.” Most cricketers from the Indian team that he managed in the 1990s looked up to him as a guiding force. For former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin, the passing away of “a gentleman” was a personal loss.

“How do I describe him. He was a symbol of everything that was nice. Yes, he would sometimes take me to task but that too with a smile. At times one could not make out from his smile if he was angry or happy. It was my fortune to have had Mr. Wadekar as the mentor of a team which was coming up with so many youngsters. I came close to him during the 1992-93 tour to South Africa when I discovered how well read he was,” said Azharuddin.

In Azharuddin’s view, “Wadekar Sir’s presence in the dressing room had a great calming impact during crisis. He made no needless demands of the players because he knew the strengths and weaknesses of an individual. Not for him needless sulking at a failure. He would always encourage us to learn and improve.”

Read: Ajit Wadekar passes away

Former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu termed his death a “great personal loss.” Sidhu was one of the many who gained from Wadekar’s cricket wisdom. “He was superb as a coach. He was actually an institution. He knew the game so well. I don’t think he was a task master because he was always for you. He had a personal equation with everyone. I will miss his splendid humour.”

Vinod Kambli would call himself a “son” of Wadekar. “I could joke with him. I could really get away with anything. He never scolded me. Always treated me with lot of compassion. He was a mentor to me and Sachin (Tendulkar) and I shall cherish the long dinners we enjoyed with Ajit Sir. His love for crabs was legendary and we would make the most of it. Of late, we used to communicate a lot on Whatsapp until he took ill,” said an emotional Kambli.

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