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On Friday, August 2, Team India honored the memory of Anshuman Gaekwad by donning black armbands during the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Anshuman Gaekwad, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 77 after a battle with blood cancer, had recently returned to India following treatment in London. During his time in London, former Indian captain Kapil Dev had disclosed that Gaekwad and his family were facing financial difficulties and sought support from the BCCI.
In response, the BCCI promptly allocated INR 1 crore to assist with Gaekwad’s treatment. Upon his return to India, Gaekwad was admitted to Bhailal Amin General Hospital in Vadodara.
As tributes flowed from all corners of the cricketing world, Team India paid their respects by wearing black armbands in remembrance of the esteemed cricketer during their match against Sri Lanka.
Between 1975 and 1987, Anshuman Gaekwad represented India in 40 Test matches and 15 One Day Internationals (ODIs). Over his Test career, he amassed 1,985 runs, featuring two centuries and ten half-centuries. In ODIs, Gaekwad accumulated 269 runs, with one half-century to his name. Following his playing career, he contributed to Indian cricket as a selector and coach for the national team.
Rohit Sharma’s tribute for Anshuman Gaekwad:
On Thursday, India captain Rohit Sharma expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of Anshuman Gaekwad, stating that he was profoundly devastated by the news. He shared his sentiments with the media on the eve of the first ODI.
“I was absolutely devastated to hear that news. I was lucky to have a few conversations with him during the BCCI awards, and on a personal note as well. When I was playing Ranji Trophy, he was there and I had a chance to speak to him when he had a few things to talk about my game as well, which was overwhelming for me because he was such a great cricketer for us.”
