Former India captain and one of the best left-handed batsmen to emerge from India, Ajit Wadekar left for heavenly abode on August 15 at the age of 77.

Ajit Wadekar is known for his flamboyant displays of batting and for being one of the shrewdest Indian captains ever. Wadekar made his debut for India in 1966 against the visiting West Indies in Mumbai. Wadekar was named the captain for the tour of England in 1971 and he led the team brilliantly to win the series, a first by any Indian team. He also led to yet another milestone series win in West Indies in 1971, the debut series of one Sunil Gavaskar, where he scored 774 runs in just four Tests.

Wadekar also captained India in its first two ODIs and scored the first fifty by an Indian in ODIs. He retired from the game in 1974 with over 2,000 runs in Tests and a best of 143 which came against New Zealand. Wadekar was made the manager/coach of the Indian team in 1990 when it was captained by Mohammad Azharuddin.

His death brings the curtains down on the golden era of the Indian cricket and his death was rightly condoled by many cricketers, present and former and even by the President of India Ramnath Kovind and Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

The President of India, Ramnath Kovind wrote, “Sad at the passing of Ajit Wadekar, one of Indian cricket’s finest left-handed batsman and captain during the iconic overseas test victories in 1971 in the Caribbean and England. Condolences to his family and to the cricket fraternity #PresidentKovind”

Narendra Modi, the Indian PM wrote, “Ajit Wadekar will be remembered for his rich contribution to Indian cricket. A great batsman & wonderful captain, he led our team to some of the most memorable victories in our cricketing history. He was also respected as an effective cricket administrator. Pained by his demise.”