Former Indian Test batsman Dilip Sardesai has been honoured by Google with a commemorative Doodle on his 78th birth anniversary. Sardesai, who was born on August 8, 1940 in Goa, represented India with distinction in 30 Test matches.
A middle-order batsman, Sardesai made his first-class debut for Indian Universities against a touring Pakistan side and went on to play his maiden Test in December 1961 against England. He was dismissed hit-wicket for 28 in his maiden bow in international cricket.
His moment of glory came during India’s tour of the West Indies in 1971, where he scored 642 runs and pulled India out of trouble on several occasions with his gutsy batting in the face of some hostile pace bowling. He scored one double century, two centuries and a half-century on the tour.
His knock of 112 in India’s first innings at Port-of-Spain laid the foundation of a historic victory which eventually gave India their maiden series win in the Caribbean. His partnerships with a young Sunil Gavaskar on that tour are part of Indian cricketing folklore.
He went on to play a major role in Indian maiden series win in England later that year. His knocks of 54 and 40 during the final Test at The Oval proved to be important in a low scoring match that India went on to win.
{{/usCountry}}He went on to play a major role in Indian maiden series win in England later that year. His knocks of 54 and 40 during the final Test at The Oval proved to be important in a low scoring match that India went on to win.
{{/usCountry}}He bowed out of international cricket at Delhi’s iconic Feroz Shah Kotla stadium against England in December 1972. He scored 2001 runs at an impressive average of 39.23 from 30 Test matches.
Sardesai was a colossus in domestic cricket. He played 179 first-class matches, scoring 10,230 runs at an average of 41.75 with 25 centuries and 56 half-centuries.
He represented Bombay in 13 Ranji Trophy seasons and went on to win the championship on 10 occasions with the team.
He passed away on July 2, 2007, at the age of 67 years due to a chest infection.