Former Indian cricketer Deepak Shodhan passes away at 87

India’s oldest serving cricketer Deepak Shodhan passed away at the ripe old age of 87. Historically, Shodhan was the first Indian to score a century in his debut innings.  Shodhan passed away at his residence in Ahmedabad. He had been suffering from lung cancer, which was detected in February this year. The funeral was scheduled for 11 am on Monday.A stylish batsman during his time, Shodhan was handed his first Test cap at the age of 25. This cap was immensely important as it came against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in 1952. He walked in to bat with the Indians in trouble at 179/6 and smashed 110 runs to his name. The match eventually ended in a draw.

“I was in the reserves for the series against Pakistan in 1952-53, the historic first Test series between our two newly independent nations,” Shodhan had said of his origins in a recent interview. “In the final Test match, at Calcutta, I was drafted into the playing XI after our captain Vijay Hazare pulled out unwell. It was Lala Amarnath, who was captaining India in Vijay Hazare’s absence, who asked for me to be brought in – ‘that tall Gujarati boy who had done so well in the trials and other matches’.”

Despite his decent start to his career, Shodhan failed to make any further impact. He went on the 1953 tour to the Caribbean and was dropped for the first two Tests. However, he was picked for the third Test in Jamaica, only to miss out on flu. He returned for the fourth Test at Port-of-Spain and scored 45 and 11 runs. His bravery was commended by Madhav Apte.

“He was down with flu and was admitted to the hospital and did not bat in the first innings. [In the second innings] We needed someone to waste time and delay the West Indies batting. Deepak managed to just do that and consumed enough time to help India draw that match.”

“I loved playing cricket. My first-class career stretched on to 1962, ten years after I played my last Test match,” Shodhan had said in April.

Datta Gaekwad, father of former India all-rounder and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, has become India’s oldest living Test cricketer at 87 years and 202 days.

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