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July 03, 2007

Former Indian Test Cricketer Dilip Sardesai has expired yesterday because of a multiple organ failure. Sardesai was a prolific top order batsman for India playing 30 Tests between 1961 and 1962. He died at the age of 66 in Mumbai. He has been hospitalized since last month because of a chest infection. His son Rajdeep Sardesai is a famous face in Indian Media and also a former first class cricketer for the Oxford University.

Sardesai got 2001 runs for India at a good average of 39.23. He has five hundreds and nine fifties in the 55 innings he had played. Two of those centuries were double centuries. He represented Bombay in the Ranji Trophy Championship. Sardesai's Test Debut had come at the Green Park in Kanpur against England in 1961. His best innings could be the 200 not out against New Zealand at his home ground, the Brabourne Stadium in t he 64/65 Test Match against New Zealand. In reply to New Zealand's first innings score of 297, India were bundled out for just 88 and were forced to follow on. But in the follow on, Sardesai rescued the Indians with that double century after batting close to 10 hours! India almost won that game with New Zealand tottering along at 80 for 8 chasing 255!

Dilip Sardesai's second double century, a score of 212 came during the fag end of his career against West Indies at the Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica in 1971. Sardesai had great scores of 112, 150 and 75 against the Windies on that tour of 1970/71. He has also played in 179 first class matches in which he had collected 25 centuries and 56 fifties at an average over 41.00.
 

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