Name Hindi: सी. डी. गोपीनाथ / Gender Man
C. D. Gopinath
Cottari Deepakarai Gopinath, commonly known as C. D. Gopinath was an esteemed cricketer who made significant contributions to Indian cricket history both on and off the field. Born on 1st March 1930, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India this legendary batsman etched his name indelibly into the annals of Indian Cricket.
Early Career
Gopinath started playing cricket at a very young age. He was seen as a child prodigy and much was expected from him from his early days due to extraordinary skills he showed while playing school-level cricket. His excellent performance paved way for higher exposure when he began representing Madras University in college level competitions.
International Debut
In January 1951, Gopinath’s consistent display of great form earned him international debut against England where he played four consecutive Test Matches but didn’t manage to score more than 50 runs per innings.
The Peak Season: 1958-59
The season of 1958-59 proved to be his most successful career span wherein C.D.Gopinath displayed exceptional batting prowess by scoring over fifty three times with an overall average run tally of around 40.Thereafter,his significance in the national team increased significantly.
Career Landmarks & Achievements
- First-Class Record: Over a period ranging from late1940s to mid-1960s,GopIndia,nath played more than two hundred first class matches scoring over ten thousand runs which included twenty-three centuries.
- Durable Career: He played for a staggering 17 years and towards the latter part of his career, he was appointed as one of the national selectors after retiring from playing in1964
- Milestone Achievement: In January 1959,Gopinath became one among only three Indian cricketers to score double century on foreign soil.
- Honorary Awards: The Government of India conferred him with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1962 for his outstanding contributions to Cricket in India.
Post Retirement & Personal Life
Gopinath married Geetha Gopalan and had two children. After hanging up his boots from active cricket-playing, C.D.Gopinath never broke ties with the sport. Instead, he continued contributing to this game’s betterment through administrative roles. His dedication fetched him the position of honorary secretary at Tamil Nadu Cricket Association whereas his sharp, strategic thinking made him one among the prominent selectors during late1980s.He also served as manager for World Cup Team that participated in Prudential World cup-1975 held in England.
To conclude,Cottari Deepakarai Gopinath contributed immensely throughout Indian Cricket History not only through his cricketing exploits but also by excelling off-field aspects post-retirement.This man’s services have indubitably been illustrative of unflappable commitment towards&International love for this game.
