Information on famous cricketer of Goa- Dilip Narayan Sardesai
In this article I have provided information on famous cricketer from Goa- Dilip Narayan Sardesai. I have provided details on his background and cricketing career and achievements.
Biography of Goa born cricketer Dilip Narayan Sardesai
Dilip Narayan Sardesai was India's famous and well known cricketer. He was the first and only Goan cricketer to represent India in the international level.
Background and Career of Dilip Sardesai.
Background and career achievements of Dilip Sardesai(Goan cricketer)
Dilip Sardesai was born on 8th August 1940 in Margoa, Goa. Dilip Sardesai was inclined towards playing cricket from a young age and used to play for his college in University level championships. He made his mark in cricket while playing in an inter-university level championship where he scored 435 runs at an average of 87. Following this success he was selected to play against the touring Pakistan team in the year 1960-01 where he played for Indian universities. Here too he made an impact scoring 87 runs following which he wa selected for Board President's XI. He made more such contributions and finally he was included in the Bombay team for Ranji Trophy.
Sardesai made his first test debut when he was selected for the match against England in 1961. Later on he was selected for various matches and scored good runs. His career however seemed in jeopardy when his form dripped and he suffered from various injuries.
However he was selected back into the team and he scored a brilliant 212 and 112 runs against West Indies in Kingston. This led to India's first ever victory against the mighty West Indies. Later on in the series he scored a total of 642 runs which was the highest Indian record before being smashed by Sunil Gavaskar. Sardesai's contribution marked India's first ever series win against West Indies.
The entire country was overwhelmed by this feat and Vijay Merchant rightly called Sardesi ans the 'Renaissance man of Indian cricket'. Sardesai made more contribution for Indian cricket before retiring from all forms of cricket in the year 1970-01.
Dilip Sardesai is known in the Indian cricketing world to be the best player of spin bowling. Dilip Sardesai has a dubious record of always being in the winning side the entire stint he played with Bombay. Sardesai has scored 2000 runs in international level test matches and more than 10 thousand runs in first class cricket with an average of 39 and 41 respectively.
Sardesai spent the rest of his life in his ancestral home in Goa and his flat in Bombay. Sardesai died on 2nd July 2007 following a chest infection. He is survived by his wife Nandini, son Rajdeep and daughter Shonali.
