Name Hindi: संदीप पाटिल / Gender Coach
Sandeep Patil – A Cricket Legend
Sandeep Madhusudan Patil is a former Indian cricketer, known for his aggressive batting style during the late 70s and early 80s. Born and raised in Mumbai, India on August 18, 1956, Patil made significant contributions to the world of cricket both as a player and later as a coach.
Early Life and Entry into Cricket
Patil’s passion for cricket was ignited at an early age. He was surrounded by cricket from childhood, being born into a family that loves the sport. His father was a first-division cricketer who guided him through its intricacies. Sandeep went to Shardashram Vidya Mandir school which has also produced other illustrious cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli. While still in college, very few people could have predicted his rise to national fame based on his measured yet masterful performances.
A Remarkable Career
Patil began his international career with India against Pakistan in October 1980. In just his sixth Test match innings, he scored a blazing century against Australia making six sixes and fourteen fours, truly showing off his aggressive style of play.
- The World Cup Win: The highlight of Patil’s career undoubtedly came during the 1983 World Cup where he played pivotal roles in India’s historic win.
- Highest Score: His highest test score came against England at Manchester, another high-stakes scenario where he hit lightening-fast runs that cemented his reputation as an audacious batsman even further.
- Retirement: He retired from international cricket in 1986, with an impressive record of having played 29 Test matches scoring 1,588 runs at an average of over 39. He also represented India in 45 One-Day Internationals.
Coaching Career and Other Roles
Post-retirement, Patil continued to be involved with cricket as a coach and selector. He coached the Indian national team between 1996-1997, although his stint was rather controversial. Later on, he trained Kenya’s national cricket team which surprisingly reached the semi-finals under his guidance during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. Sandeep Patil served as Chairperson of the All India Junior Selection Committee (AIJSC) for two years before being appointed by BCCI as Director of National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bangalore.
The Legacy Continues…
Sandeep Patil continues to remain one of the most influential figures of Indian cricket. His son, Chirag Patil also followed his father’s footprints into professional cricket and later acting – he played the role of his father in ’83’, a film based on India’s historic win in the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
It is fair to say that whether it was setting towering scores or shaping young talent, Sandeep Patil has always left an indelible mark on every aspect of cricket throughout both his playing and coaching career.
