New Delhi, April 3: In cricket, players who can turn the tide of a match through their batting and bowling are invaluable. Bapu Nadkarni was one such player who made remarkable contributions to the Indian team during a time when it was considered young and inexperienced.
Born on April 4, 1933, in Nashik, Nadkarni’s full name was Rameshchandra Gangaram ‘Bapu’ Nadkarni.
From a young age, Nadkarni had a passion for cricket. Primarily a bowler, he also made a significant impact with his batting due to his hard work and dedication. It is said that during practice sessions, he would place a coin on the pitch and aim to hit it with every delivery.
Nadkarni made his Test debut against New Zealand in Delhi from December 16 to 21, 1955. He played his last Test match against the same team in Auckland from March 7 to 12, 1968. Over his 13-year career, Nadkarni played 41 Tests, scoring 1,414 runs with one century and seven half-centuries, while also taking 88 wickets as a left-arm spinner.
On January 12, 1964, he set a record by bowling 21.5 consecutive overs (131 balls) without conceding a single run against England in Madras.
In domestic cricket, Nadkarni represented Mumbai and Maharashtra, amassing 8,880 runs, including 14 centuries and 46 half-centuries, along with 500 wickets in 191 first-class matches.
Nadkarni passed away on January 17, 2020, in Pune, Maharashtra. He was also a mentor to the legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar.
After Nadkarni’s passing, Gavaskar recalled that his favorite phrase was “Chhodo mat,” meaning “Don’t give up.” This phrase encapsulated the spirit of playing for India, encouraging players to stay strong and keep pushing forward.
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