Former skipper and a trailblazer of Indian cricket team Ajit Wadekar dies at 77 after prolonged illness

Mumbai, August 16: R.I.P to our former cricket captain Ajit Wadekar, who was a trailblazer in the Indian team died on Wednesday at the age of 77 after the prolonged illness.

 

Ajit Wadekar was an aggressive batsman and an important part of the cricketing world of India despite he appeared only in 37 Test matches. He was bestowed the Arjuna Award in 1967 and Padmashri in 1972. He is survived by wife Rekha, two sons and a daughter.

Jaslok hospital, where Ajit Wadekar was declared dead on arrival in a statement said, "He had been critically unwell for sometime and was seeking treatment for the same," Meanwhile, a member of Wadekar family said that his last rites will be performed on Friday.

The left-hander ended his Test career with 14 half centuries, four of those being 90-plus scores. The Mumbaikar went on to serve as India's manager in the '90s during Mohammed Azharuddin's captaincy. In his tenure as manager, India had finished semifinalists at the 1996 World Cup.

He later went on to become the chairman of selectors. Wadekar is the only cricketer apart from Lala Amarnath and Chandu Borde to have served as captain, manager, and selector in Indian cricket.