Giving a fitting tribute to one of India's greatest captains and batsmen on the day he left the world, former South African player Jonty Rhodes has said that the magnificent Ajit Wadekar was a game changer for Indian Cricket. 

India's first series win in the West Indies and then in England in 1971, two of the toughest challenges in our sport at the time, came under the brave and courageous leadership of Ajit Wadekar. The young generation has grown up listening to stories from their fathers of how khadoos another talisman from Mumbai was and how he once surprised West Indies Captain Garry Sobers by telling him, "Hey Garry, you have to follow on". 

In all, Wadekar played 37 Tests for India and scored some crucial runs in great overseas wins. He served the country not only as a Test player and a captain but also as a coach/manager and the chairman of selectors after retirement. 

“This is unique to Indian cricket, the outpouring of condolences and feelings for Ajit Wadekar. He was seen as a game changer in 1971, winning India’s first overseas (against the West Indies and England) Test. Australian, South African cricket or some other country will not understand this." said Jonty on Wadekar, as he died on Thursday, August 16, and added, "In India, cricket is so much part of the people, hence the outpouring of feelings for Wadekar,”

(Inputs from SPORTSTAR Live)