The oldest living cricketer in India, Dattajirao Gaekwad, passes away at 95
Former captain of India Test team Dattajirao Gaekwad, who held the record of being the oldest-living Test cricketer in the country, died aged 95 at his residence in Baroda on Tuesday, February 13. Dattajirao played 11 Tests for India and led in 4 of them in a Test career that spanned 9 years.
Former all-rounder of team India, Irfan Pathan, took to social media to mourn the loss of the Baroda cricketer, recalling how Dattajirao Gaekwad scouted young talents in the region. The former India Test captain, who made his debut in England in June 1952, earned the distinction of being India's oldest-living Test cricketer in mid-2016.
Irfan Pathan said in a social media post, "Under the shade of the banyan tree at the Motibag cricket ground, from his blue Maruti car, Indian captain D.K. Gaekwad sir tirelessly scouted young talent for Baroda cricket, shaping the future of our team. His absence will be deeply felt. A great loss for the cricketing community.”
Dattajirao Gaekwad was the father of former India cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987.