Dilip Sardesai 78th birth anniversary: 10 facts Indian cricket lovers must know about the renaissance man

— By FPJ Web Desk | Aug 08, 2018 12:44 pm

Former India cricketer late Dilip Sardesai would have turned 78 today had he been alive. Born on August 8, 1940, Dilip is regarded as India’s best batsman of spin bowling. Dilip represented India in Tests from 1961 to 1972. Being a right-handed batsman, Dilip has played some remarkable innings which helped India bag some historical victories. Let’s have a look on some of the interesting facts of Dilip Sardesai.

 

  1. Dilip Sardesai was the only Goa-born cricketer to play for India.
  2.  Dilip never finished on the losing side in 10 finals for Bombay (now Mumbai) in the Ranji Trophy. He played a total of 13 season for Bombay in the Ranji Trophy.
  3.  In 1962, when India’s former captain Nari Contractor was severely hit on the head by West Indian fast bowler Charlie Griffith, Dilip Sardesai was at the non-strike end.
  4. During the India’s tour of West Indies during 1970-71 season, Dilip was asked at the airport whether he had anything to declare. He replied, “I have come here with runs and I’ll go back with more”.
  5. In the 1st Test at Kingston against West Indies during 1970-71 tour, India lost 5 wickets for 75. Then, Sardesai played a remarkable innings to score 212 runs, taking team’s total to 387. He also hit 150 in the 4th Test after India were 70 for 6.
  6. In the same tour in the 2nd Test, Sardesai hit 112 to lead India to first-ever victory over West Indies in Tests. India also won the five match Test series 1-0, which was India’s first series victory over West Indies.
  7. Dilip was also the key player behind India’s first series victory over England in 1971 tour. He played crucial innings of 54 and 40 in the final Test at Oval to help India win the game.
  8. In his international career, Dilip smashed 5 centuries and 9 half-centuries in just 30 Test matches he played and scored a total of 2001 runs.
  9. Among his 5 Test hundreds, Dilip scored two double centuries. One was innings of 212 runs against West Indies in February, 1971 at Kingston and the other was an unbeaten innings of 200 runs against New Zealand at Mumbai in March, 1965.
  10. Dilip Sardesai’s wife Nandini, is a member of the Indian Censor Board for motion pictures. Dilip’s son Rajdeep Sardesai is a well-known journalist. Rajdeep is former Editor-in-Chief of IBN18 Network. At present, he is a consulting editor at the India Today group, and hosts India Today Television.