Dattu Phadkar      

For a decade, Dattu Phadkar rendered yeoman service to Indian cricket as a genuine all rounder. A hard hitting middle order batsman and an accurate medium paced bowler who could swing the ball both ways prodigiously, Phadkar was one of the leading players in the country from the late forties to the late fifties. Tall and handsome and very much the cricketing heart throb in his day, Phadkar was taken to Australia in 1947-48, principally as a reserve seam bowler but he forced his way into the playing eleven through a series of fine all round performances. Particularly gratifying was his advance with the bat and he not only displayed courage while facing Lindwall and Miller, but also played aggressive strokes. He headed the Test averges scoring 314 runs (52.33). On his Test debut he scored 51 at No 8 and took three for 14. He added another half century in the next Test and then with Vijay Hazare added a record 188 runs for the sixth wicket. In the process, Phadkar notched up his maiden Test century.

Phadkar was a regular member of the Indian team after that and toured England in 1952, West Indies in 1953 and Pakistan in 1954-55. At home he played against West Indies in 1948-49, England in 1951-52, Pakistan in 1952-53, New Zealand in 1955-56, Australia in 1956-57 and West Indies in 1958-59. His best bowling was seven for 159 in the first innings against West Indies at Madras in 1948-49. Against England at Calcutta in 1951-52 he displayed his all round skill by scoring 115 and taking four wickets in the match. As only to be expected, Phadkar had an excellent record in the Ranji Trophy. Making his debut at 17, Phadkar went on to captain Bombay and finished with 1920 runs (46.82) and 216 wickets (16.61) in the national competition. His highest score was 217 for Bombay against Maharashtra in 1950-51.(Partab Ramchand)