India mourns former captain Wadekar

MUMBAI: Indian cricket fraternity on Thursday paid tribute to Ajit Wadekar, who led the country to their first series triumphs in England and the West Indies, following his death at the age of 77.

“He will always be remembered as the ‘renaissance man’ of Indian cricket,” said Board of Control for Cricket in India chief executive Rahul Johri, after it was announced that Wadekar had died in hospital in Mumbai following a long illness.

“The West Indies and England were two extremely strong teams and beating them in their backyard was almost impossible.”The batsman led India to their famous victories in 1971 and overall scored 2,113 runs in just 37 Test matches, including one century.

Wadekar was the first captain of India’s one-day team and he went on to become a powerbroker as coach, manager and chairman of the Indian selectors and mentor to future stars.Indian legends from Sachin Tendulkar to Mohammed Azharuddin and Anil Kumble all paid tribute to Wadekar’s influence in India’s rise to become a cricket superpower.

“He was someone who was instrumental in bringing out the best in us during the 90s. We’ll always be grateful for his advice and guidance,” said Tendulkar.Wadekar was manager of the Indian side in which Tendulkar flourished as an opener. Azharuddin also thrived as India’s captain from 1993 to 1996 under Wadekar’s guidance.

Azharuddin said that Wadekar had been “iconic” and a “father figure for me .. May his soul rest in peace.”Kumble, who made his comeback to the Indian team in a 1992-93 tour of South Africa, said that Wadekar “was more than a coach to the entire team — a father figure and a shrewd tactician.”“Thank you Sir for the confidence shown in my ability!” Kumble added.