Name Hindi: -अंशुमन गायकवाड़ / Gender Man
Anshuman Gaekwad
For lovers of the sport cricket, Anshuman Gaekwad is a name that resonates in their ears like one of the greatest in the game. Anshuman Dattajirao Gaekwad was born on September 23rd, 1952 in Baroda, India. As a right-handed batsman and rare medium pacer who served as an opener for the Indian Cricket team during his active sporting years, he has had impressive records that have stamped his name boldly on the placards of fame.
Early Life
Anshuman’s father was Maharaja Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad, who himself played first-class cricket for several teams while he was alive. Possibly because of this early exposure to sportsmanship, young Anshuman developed an interest in cricket which would later turn into a flourishing career.
Career Beginnings
Gaekwad made his first-class debut at age twenty-two against Mysore in January 1975. His Test match debut came naturally two years later when he opened innings with Sunil Gavaskar against New Zealand in Auckland. Following this, there was no looking back for him as he continued to flourish and make significant contributions to Indian Cricket until his retirement from professional cricket in May 1987.
- The England Tour: One of his major highlights includes scoring 201 runs against Pakistan in Jullundur during the England tour to India (1984-85). He recorded another unbeaten score of 166 runs against Sri Lanka in Kanpur for the same tour.
- Sweat Struggle Against Windies: In March 1976, he batted resolutely for 671 minutes to score an unbeaten double century against the West Indies at Kingston in Jamaica. This was a record-breaking performance as it made him the second Indian Cricketer after Sunil Gavaskar to haul such number of runs.
- 1978-79 Series Against Pakistan: Gaekwad stood out remarkably during his Test series against Pakistan (1978-79), with another feat comprising of three fifties and one hundred running of scores.
Career as Coach and Administrator
Beyond being known as a batsman, upon retirement from active sportsmanship, Anshuman transitioned into cricket syndicate by serving India’s national cricket team as its manager on different tours and occasions. His coaching career began in the late 1990s with remarkable milestones too. Notably:
- His Achievement in The ’99 World Cup: He efficiently coached India to finish third place at the ICC World Cup held in England in 1999.
- Honour In Administration: Gaekwad also served Nigerian Cricket Federation between 2002 and 2004 which was appointed by the International Cricket Council. He played vital roles possibly due to his earlier positive contributions toward budding cricketers while he was head coach of India’s National Cricket Academy between April 2000 – October 2001.
- Elected member of ICA & BCCI :Anshuman was elected a member of BCCI’s Apex Council on July 2019 before becoming part of the Indian Cricketer’s Association, where he now serves diligently as part of his administrative capacities.
Awards and Honors
As a result of his brilliant performances and various landmark contributions towards Cricket sports, Anshuman has received several awards. In December 2018, the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement award as an appreciation for his significant contribution to cricket.
Conclusion
Anshuman Gaekwad remains one of the most iconic figures in the history of Indian cricket. His skills on the field, dedication to coaching teams, and contributions as an administrator have placed him solidly in sporting history books.
