Anshuman Gaekwad, one of the most disciplined Test batsmen, has retired. The former Test batsman has retired after a remarkable 18 successive seasons as Baroda’s captain.
Haresh Pandya asked him to look back on his career and received some unusually candid and refreshing responses.
Bespectacled, bruised, and battered, yet battling bravely. That was Anshuman Gaekwad’s brave batting against Michael Holding, firing on all cylinders in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1976. He retired hurt after playing a manly innings of 81. The West Indian bowling was very hostile and at times so intimidating that Bishan Singh Bedi, the Indian skipper, decided to declare the innings at 306 for 6 in order to save his bowlers from injuries. It was a sheer display of courage in the wake of the massacre triggered by Michael Holding and company in Sabina Park, that stamped Gaekwad out among the Indian batsmen.
Anshuman Gaekwad had already impressed the critics with his fine performance against the West Indies at home in 1974–75 in his maiden Test series. A great future was predicted, and Gaekwad was hailed as the best Indian batsman of pace bowling after Viswanath and Gavaskar at that time. But the selectors started tossing him back and forth like a shuttlecock after a couple of glaring failures. They did not bother to find out the reasons for his poor form. Nor did they allow him to settle down in his international career.
Anshuman Gaekwad sheds some searching light on this point:
I got bypassed by the selectors since the comparison of an opening batsman only with Sunil (Gavaskar). Moreover, the instructions for me from the selectors and managers at that time were to play second fiddle to Sunil. The golden password was this: “Just stay at the wicket, and Sunil Gavaskar will do the rest.” Well, as a gentleman, I obeyed the orders, and as a result, I used to bat for two to three hours and just score 20 or 30 runs. However, these contributions were not good enough for me to stay on the team. The pressure of being dropped from the side was always there. No one can perform freely without fear. Maybe it was the case with me, and here you see me now retired, with no regrets.”
How did he decide to call it a day? Had it anything to do with frustration?
I had been contemplating my retirement for two years. I carried on for the sake of Baroda’s cricket. The decision has not come out of frustration. I thought it was time to set my priorities right. I have played for so long, and it is no use blocking a place in the team without any further motivation. Maybe I will be able to contribute more by remaining out of active cricket.
Was he certain of making a hundred in his farewell fixture?
I had told my vice-captain that I would score a century in my last match when we were playing our third Ranji match of the season, against Maharashtra at Kolhapur. I could not have dreamt of such a feat on my debut in first-class cricket, for I played as a bowler in that match and used to bat at No. 10! I did not plan for a century in my first Test either, though I did hope for a big innings. However, when I was batting well and confidently on 36, I was wrongly given out and caught behind off Fredericks. The West Indian wicketkeeper, Deryck Murray, said “sorry” afterward.”
What season did he regard as the best of his career?
The season 1980–81 was simply brilliant. I had scored a lot of runs, but when the team for the tour of Australia and New Zealand was picked, my name did not appear in it. It was most disappointing since I was very confident about my batting, which was the best of my career. As regards my best innings, I have three different categories. So far as sheer determination and guts are concerned, I would pick the one I played in Jamaica in 1976, when I scored 81 and had to retire hurt. As for patience and perseverance, I will go for the 201 (then the slowest double-century in first-class cricket: 652 minutes) I scored against Pakistan at Jullundur in 1983. As regards stroke-play, I think it was my knock of 80 (run out) against West Indies at Madras in 1974–75. It was India’s second inning, and I batted at No. 7.’
What did he feel made a perfect batsman?
A perfect batsman makes things look so easy on a good as well as a bad pitch and against any opponent. To name a few such batsmen, Sunil Gavaskar, GR Viswanath, Geoff Boycott, Viv Richards, Alvin Kallicharran, Gordon Greenidge, and David Gower easily come to mind. Out of these, though, each had a different value of his own. I still feel Sunil Gavaskar was the best of the lot because he had the best technique and the best combination of solid defense and strokeplay.’
What about the current state of international cricket, especially one-day cricket, and its increasing popularity? How long will Test cricket survive in this environment?
1 feel that Test cricket will never go, though the popularity, as well as the attendance, may continue to decrease. Cricket in the real sense is “Test” cricket. The technique and the finer points of the game can only be known in Test matches. There is very little technique involved in one-day international. What matters in runs, no matter how they come by. Most of the shots played in one-day matches can be “out” in five-day cricket. ‘One-day cricket is surely not good for the game as it does not involve any technique to play the ball correctly. An inside or outside edge is a good shot in a one-day international, provided it brings runs! As for me, I think I was a bit underestimated in one-day cricket. I am today the highest run scorer in one-day cricket at the national level. ‘One-day cricket does not necessarily mean that you have to hit fours and sixes. As long as your technique permits, you can keep getting singles, twos, and threes, involving less risk than going for big hits. Big hits can be resorted to only at the fag-end, when the situation demands such shots.”
He seemed not to have been given fair treatment by the selectors, even when he was in peak form. Any comments?
My biggest drawback was that I was too straightforward and believed in obeying orders. As a result, I got stamped out as a slow batsman. I think I should have used my discretion to play my shots once I was in the middle. I am sure the picture would have been different then. Maybe at times I should have been selfish and gotten my runs as the others did. I was very keen on playing the cover-drive and square-cut, which gave me a lot of runs.”
What about family, friends, food and films—his likes and dislikes?
My family consists of my parents, three younger sisters (all married), one (laughing) wife, and two sons. My mother is a good cook. I eat a lot of spicy foods, which are basically non-vegetarian. As for films, I rarely see them unless there is an outstanding English movie. I love my friends more than my relatives. They are always there at my home, where we have great fun. I like to write and receive letters. I also love to receive gifts, which I treasure. I love wristwatches, and I have a fair collection. I like people who are polite, sincere, and friendly. I hate backbiting and dishonesty. To describe myself in one sentence, I can say, -“I can forgive but can’t forget.” Maybe because I am too sensitive. If somebody is nice to me, I can be nice to him 10 times more. But if he is bad, I avoid him completely. Normally, I do not react angrily to anybody’s fault immediately. I give him time to improve or else give him a long rope till he hangs himself!”
Did he have a message to young and aspiring cricketers?
It is better to get their basics right. All other things will follow later. The form of cricket remains common for Tests and one-day internationals. However, a most important aspect is fielding, which every young cricketer must concentrate on.’
