Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes BCCI and Team India Over Delayed Tribute

Sunil Gavaskar expressed anger and disappointment because it took the Indian team management three days into the Test match against England to honor the memory of Dattajirao Gaekwad.

The Indian cricketers made the decision to wear black armbands on Day 3 of the third Test against England in Rajkot as a tribute to Dattajirao Gaekwad, a former India captain who passed away on February 13 at the age of 95. Gaekwad was the oldest living Indian Test cricketer since the death of Deepak Shodhan in 2016. However, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed frustration and anger because it took the Indian team management three days into the Test match to recognize and honor Gaekwad’s memory, indicating a delay in acknowledging his contributions to Indian cricket.

The third Test match commenced on February 15, just two days after Dattajirao Gaekwad had passed away. However, on both Day 1 and Day 2 of the match, the Indian cricketers did not wear black armbands to honor Gaekwad’s memory. It wasn’t until Saturday that the BCCI announced that Rohit Sharma and the Indian team would wear black armbands on the field, indicating a delay in recognizing and paying tribute to Gaekwad’s contribution to Indian cricket.

The BCCI released a statement before the start of play on the third day of the Test match, announcing that Team India would wear black armbands in memory of Dattajirao Gaekwad, the former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer who had recently passed away.

Sunil Gavaskar expressed his dissatisfaction with the delayed tribute, noting that while it was better late than never, the black armbands should have been worn from the first day itself. He highlighted Gaekwad’s significant contributions to Indian cricket, mentioning his captaincy during a five-match series, where he led the team in four matches, with Pankaj Roy captaining the remaining one.

The BCCI issued a condolence message shortly after Dattajirao Gaekwad’s passing, acknowledging his contributions to Indian cricket. The message highlighted Gaekwad’s role as a former India captain and the oldest living Test cricketer at the time of his demise. It also mentioned his leadership during India’s Tour of England in 1959 and Baroda’s victory in the Ranji Trophy under his captaincy in the 1957-58 season. The Board extended its heartfelt condolences to Gaekwad’s family, friends, and supporters.

Dattajirao Gaekwad had a notable cricketing career, playing in 11 Test matches for India and captaining the team during the Tour of England in 1959. Additionally, he led Baroda to victory in the Ranji Trophy during the 1957-58 season, where they emerged champions by defeating Services in the final.

While Dattajirao Gaekwad’s cover drives may have been a nightmare for Bombay teams in the 1950s, his success at the highest level of cricket was somewhat limited. Despite his proficiency with the cover drive, Gaekwad’s performance did not consistently meet expectations during his international career, which spanned from 1952 to 1961.

Aunshuman Gaekwad, who played 40 Tests from the 1970s to the 1980s, achieved more success than his father, Dattajirao Gaekwad, owing to his tight defensive technique.

Dattajirao Gaekwad, known for his memorable performances against Bombay teams in the 1950s, once scored a double hundred. However, it was Vijay Hazare’s 126 that stood out more in the memories of old-timers.

Gaekwad made his debut against England at Leeds in 1952 and played his final international match against Pakistan in Chennai in 1961. In the Ranji Trophy, he represented Baroda from 1947 to 1961, accumulating 3139 runs at an impressive average of 47.56, including 14 centuries. His highest score was an unbeaten 249 against Maharashtra in the 1959-60 season.

Dattajirao Gaekwad became India’s oldest living Test cricketer in 2016 following the passing of former batter Deepak Shodhan at the age of 87 in Ahmedabad.

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