Former Indian cricket team cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad was born on this day (23 September) in 1952. Anshuman was also famous as 'The Great Wall' due to his defensive technique. Whenever the most aggressive cricketers of the Indian cricket team are talked about, Anshuman Gaekwad's name is definitely taken. Anshuman Gaekwad died on 31 July this year. He was battling blood cancer for a long time.

When Anshuman Gaikwad clashed with dreaded bowlers

In the 1970s, the pair of Gaikwad and Sunil Gavaskar was a hit. While the great batsman Sunil Gavaskar used to score runs from one end, Gaikwad was adept at withstanding and neutralizing the attacks of the pacers at the beginning of the innings. His most aggressive innings came in 1975-76 on a dangerous track in Jamaica. In that match, India's captain Bishan Bedi refused to bat in protest against the dangerous bowling of the West Indies. But Gaikwad scored 81 runs facing Michael Holding's short balls, although he had to be hospitalized due to a head injury.

He also became the head coach of Team India

Anshuman Gaekwad made his debut for India in 1974. He played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India. Gaekwad played his last Test for India in 1984 against England in Kolkata. He scored 1985 runs in Tests at an average of 30, including 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries.

Anshuman Gaekwad made his debut in ODI cricket in the 1975 World Cup. Anshuman scored 22 runs off 46 balls in that match. He scored only 289 runs in his 15 ODI matches. He became the coach of the Indian team in 1997, many years after his cricket career ended. He remained the coach of the Indian team for two seven years. The Indian team defeated Australia in the triangular series in Sharjah in 1998 while he was the coach.

Father captained Team India

Anshuman Gaekwad was born on 23 September 1952 in Bombay (now Mumbai). His father Dattajirao Gaekwad was also a Test cricketer and captained the Indian team. He played 11 Tests for India between 1952 and 1961. During this, he was made the captain of Team India on the tour of England in 1959. He scored 3139 runs in these 11 Test matches at an average of 47.56, which included 14 centuries. He became India's oldest Test cricketer in 2016. Datta Gaekwad died this year at the age of 95.