Former India cricketer Gaekwad dies at 71

New Delhi, July 31
Former India cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who served the game in different capacities after his retirement as a player, died today after a long battle with cancer. He was 71.
Gaekwad played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India. Gaekwad, who was also a former India coach and national selector, was undergoing treatment for blood cancer at the King’s College Hospital in London. He returned to the country last month. The BCCI gave Rs 1 crore for Gaekwad’s treatment and members of the 1983 World Cup-winning team also did their bit to help the cricketer.
Gaekwad also played 205 First-Class matches in a career spanning 22 years.
An opening batter, he was known for his dogged defence with a very high back lift. Between 1974 and 1984, he was involved in the game of musical chairs with Chetan Chauhan for the role of the second opener to partner Sunil Gavaskar. — PTI