Chennai, April 9: Indian cricket’s oldest and most revered figure, Chingalput Dorai Kannan Gopinath, has passed away at the age of 96. Reports indicate that Gopinath died at his daughter’s home in Adyar, Chennai. Following the death of Dutta Gaikwad in 2024, Gopinath was the last surviving member of the Indian team that recorded the country’s first Test victory.
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association expressed its condolences on X, stating, “Rest in peace, CD Gopinath! A true pioneer of Indian cricket and the last surviving member of the historic team that wrote the story of India’s first Test victory. Your legacy will forever remain immortal in the rich history of this sport.”
Born on March 1, 1930, in Chennai (then known as Madras), Gopinath represented a classic era of cricket. The right-handed batsman gained recognition through consistent performances in domestic cricket for Madras, which ultimately paved his way to the national team.
Gopinath made his Test debut against England in the 1951-52 season, leaving a mark with an unbeaten half-century in his first match. He also played a remarkable innings at Brabourne Stadium during the same series. His last international appearance was in 1960 against Australia at Eden Gardens.
Gopinath played a crucial role in India’s historic Test victory over England in Chennai, contributing 35 runs and taking a significant catch to dismiss Brian Statham off Vinoo Mankad’s bowling. Mankad was the star of that match, claiming 8 wickets in the first innings and 4 in the second.
Throughout his Test career, Gopinath played 8 matches, scoring 242 runs at an average of 22, including one half-century. He also took 1 wicket. In 83 first-class matches, he amassed 4,259 runs with 9 centuries and took 14 wickets.
From the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, Gopinath captained Madras for several seasons. In the 1970s, he became a national selector and later served as the chairman of the selection committee. He also managed the Indian team during the 1979 tour of England.
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