Wadekar a big influence on Tendulkar

The cricketing world was in mourning, especially those who lives were touched by the man, who gave Indian cricket new belief by leading the side to overseas Test wins against England and the West Indies back in 1971. 

“Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Ajit Wadekar sir. 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. Praying for strength for his family during this difficult time,” Tendulkar wrote on his twitter page. Manager Wadekar had an instrumental role to play in making Tendulkar an opener, a position in which he flourished.

It was also under Wadekar that Mohammed Azharuddin, who was till then a struggling captain after Test series losses in New Zealand, England and Australia, got a second wind from 1993 to 1996.  “such an iconic person..deeply saddened by his demise!! Sir was a father figure for me.. May his soul rest in peace! My Heartfelt Condolences to the family,” Azharuddin wrote on his twitter page.

For Anil Kumble, Wadekar was a God-sent after he was dropped following the 1990 tour of England. His comeback coincided with Wadekar’s entry as manager during the 1992-93 tour of South Africa. He was never dropped during the next 16 years till his retirement in 2008. “Deeply saddened by the passing away of #AjitWadekar He was more than a coach to the entire team - a father figure and a shrewd tactician. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. He will be missed. Thank you Sir for the confidence shown in my ability!” wrote Kumble. 

For Sanjay Manjrekar, Wadekar was a “tough character” as coach. Manjrekar tweeted a video of Wadekar in cricket gear one last time during an undated charity match at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana in Mumbai. “Ajit Wadekar’s impact on Indian cricket is immense. His contemporaries worshipped him, such was his aura. Found him to be a tough character as coach. Exceptional Indian cricketer... RIP Sir.”

The legendary Bishan Singh Bedi was magnanimous in his praise even though he conceded that they had difference of opinion on cricketing issues. “V sad news-Ajit Wadekar passing away-only Indn Capt to win 3 series in a row-2 away 1 at home-ALW was good contemporary-we had differences of opinion but always respected glory of Crkt-fine batsman & great close in catch-served Indn Crkt w/aplomb as player/Selectr/Coach-RIP Jeetu!”.

Shocked over the demise of Ajit Wadekar, spin great Erapalli Prasanna said his former teammate was one of the most elegant left handers he had played with.

“I am utterly shocked. I heard it in the morning and I still don’t know the reason. Ajit was the one of the most elegant left-handers I played with and under,” said Wadekar, who was suffering from prolonged illness, breathed his last at the age of 77.

If Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi brought princely demeanour to leadership in the swinging 60s, Ajit Wadekar added a dash of middle-class stubbornness during the heady days of early 70s.

An astute thinker of the game with copybook technique of the famed ‘Bombay School of Batsmanship’, Wadekar was more than just the captain, who led India to twin series victories in England and the West Indies in 1971. The man who breathed his last in Mumbai on Wednesday played just 37 Tests and had only one hundred against his name.

But the numbers do not exactly tell the story of a cricketer, who possibly made Indian cricket captaincy a coveted job. Wadekar epitomised the ‘khadoos’ nature of Mumbai cricketers.

When the late Vijay Merchant handed over the reins to Wadekar, little did anyone expect that an Indian team would be able to compete and win in alien conditions like England and the West Indies. He was lucky that a genius called Sunil Gavaskar’s arrival coincided with his ascendancy to the hot seat, but he should get the credit for throwing a 21-year-old to the deep end of the pool.

Add to it, his decision to form a four-pronged spin quartet with Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and Srininvas Venkatraghavan. That attack formed the backbone of the Indian team. If Gavaskar was the hero in the West Indies, Wadekar unleashed Chandrasekhar on the Englishmen during a time which could be aptly called ‘That 70s show’.

Wadekar was a product of times when education was paramount and University cricket produced stalwarts. His triple hundred in Vizzy Trophy (for West Zone Universities) record was incidentally broken by Gavaskar.

He was perhaps the most elegant left-handed Indian batsman to have graced the field before a certain Sourav Ganguly arrived on the scene. Call it the game of glorious uncertainties, Wadekar lost his captaincy after a disastrous England tour of 1974 when India lost 0-3 in Test matches.

Such was the irony that a giant bat erected in Indore commemorating the ‘71 win was defaced and his house in Mumbai was stoned. Wadekar retired from cricket and concentrated on his banking career. He reached the top position in State Bank of India and in 1992, was summoned to take over as manager of an underperforming Indian team and a low-on-confidence skipper Mohammed Azharuddin. In the next four years, India was unbeatable at home with Wadekar unleashing three young spinners -- Anil Kumble, Rajesh Chauhan and Venkatpathy Raju -- on the visiting teams.

It was an instant success formula. He had a brilliant sense of humour but knew when to crack the whip. A former India captain was seen endorsing a shoe brand during a practice session of the Indian team. Wadekar saw it and did not say a word.

The legend has it, he called the senior fast bowler and told him, ‘You know I once made a batsman called Sunil Gavaskar open the bowling for India as captain. Hope you do not want that I make Tendulkar open the bowling instead of you’’.  His father’s name was LB Wadekar and he would often say, “Mere toh naam mein hi LBW hain’’. 

With his demise, Indian cricket has lost one of its finest cricket brains, a statesman and raconteur.