10 Interesting facts about Dilip Sardesai that you need to know

10 Interesting facts about Dilip Sardesai that you need to know: Although, there are many cricketers who have lighted up the beautiful sport, Cricket but only the names of few are remembered even after their life. Such players are the ones who make the game wealthier as they leave a great legacy in the game to be inherited by the generations to come. Similar has been the glorious legacy left behind by the Renaissance Man of Indian Cricket, Dilip Narayan Sardesai. A man who loved the game as much as his life was always seen smiling but always had some trick or the other up his sleeves to improve the very game which stands out the most.

Sardesai featured in 30 Tests and aggregated 2,001 runs at an average of 39.29 with 5 centuries. But, mind you folks the stats are always one side of a story. It holds true in Dilip Sardesai’s case as well whose immaculate contributions were much beyond any numbers.

Today, CricTracker celebrates the 75^th Birthday of Dilip Sardesai by presenting 10 Interesting facts about him that you need to know:

1. Born in Goa:

Dilip Sardesai was born on 2 July 1940 in Margao, Goa. He was and is the only Goa-born cricketer to represent India. A city which was ruled by the Portuguese had nothing for cricket. Forget about role models or infrastructure the place didn’t have a single turf wicket.

2. Talent spotted by Lala Amarnath:

Dilip was participating in trials of combined universities when his impeccable straight bat shots captured chief selector Lala Amarnath’s eyes. In his book Luck by talent, Suresh Menon has mentioned about what Lala said to him. “I like your style but some of the other selectors don’t know the ABC of technique so hit a few balls in the air they will be happy.” He did that and got selected.

3. Prolific First-class cricketer:

He was named in the Indian side even before playing a Ranji match. Lala Amarnath led selection panel selected him for the university match against Pakistan where he scored 87 and then he amassed a century while representing Board’s President XI against Pakistan even before playing for Bombay in Ranji Trophy. He kept compiling runs at domestic level before he debuted against England in 1961.

4. Rock-solid player:

The man who didn’t play on turf wicket before turning 17 was playing for India at the age of 21 which speaks volumes about his top-notch skills and commitment. Dilip Sardesai was a pioneer against spin bowlers. He is considered as one of the best players of spin in our country but was very good against pacers as well.

5. Utmost self-belief:

Very few players would have dared to don the role of opening batsman in 1961 against West Indies after Nari Contractor got blew away by a hit on his head. But, the gritty Sardesai was not the one to back off and he not only opened but scored 31 and 60 when he got to open. On eve of 1971 series against West Indies the man with supreme self-confidence had asserted that “I have come here with runs and I’ll go back with more.” And the rest as they say is history.

6. 1971 tour of West Indies:

Though in the series, Sunil Gavaskar plundered 774 runs but he had said that “He (Dilip Sardesai) showed us how to play fast bowling, and in doing so gave us the confidence we needed to beat the West Indies.” Dilip ended the series with 642 runs against his name. His brilliant century led India to its first Test match victory against West Indies while his immense contributions helped India earn their first series victory against West Indies.

7. Bombay Champion:

It’s one of the rare achievements you will ever see or hear. Dilip Sardesai featured in 61 matches for Bombay and averaged 54. But, the biggest silverware of his domestic career was that he never ended up on the losing side while donning the Bombay jersey.

8. Family:

It is notable that his son Rajdeep Sardesai also represented Oxford University in 7 First class matches. Rajdeep Sardesai is an popular Indian Journalist. He was the also Editor in Chief of the channel CNN-IBN but now he works in Aaj Tak as consultant editor.

9. Astute Gentleman:

Rahul Dravid speaking at Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture had said that during a Under-19 match between New Zealand and India in 1991, a Kiwi player had expressed strong dissent towards umpire on getting out, a gesture not at all liked by Sardesai. He made it a point to walk up to the player and the team manager and expressed his disappointment at how the young man had behaved in no uncertain term.

10. Favorite Food:

Although, piling big runs gave him much satisfaction but Dilip Sardesai was very fond of eating Prawn curry and rice.