Cricket and Goa are never a perfect match. Until Dilip Sardesai came along, and changed that with wristy shots and such masterful play against spin bowling that India took notice.
Sunil Gavaskar to kick off the lectures on December 16, just before England’s tour of India takes off
MUMBAI: Cricket and Goa are never a perfect match. Until Dilip Sardesai came along, and changed that with wristy shots and such masterful play against spin bowling that India took notice. That was back in the 1960s and 70s but even to this day, the late Sardesai remains the only Goan to have played for India.
His demise, at the age of 66, on July 2, 2007, was grieved by the entire nation. On his first death anniversary, the Sardesai family (wife Nandini, son Rajdeep and daughter Shonali) wants to ensure that Dilip’s memories continue to live on.
Dilip was never one for elaborate rituals, thus the family wants the day to be a quiet affair spent in remembrance of the man dearest to them.
In his honour, Nandini, a sociologist and Rajdeep, editor-in-chief, CNN-IBN, have decided to launch Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lectures. Similar in conception to the Spirit of Cricket Lecture, instituted by the MCC in the memory of the late English cricketer Colin Cowdrey, these will be an annual affair.
It is only befitting that the first of these lectures will be given by Sunil Gavaskar on December 16, just before England’s tour of India kicks off. England had always been a special opponent for Dilip, against whom he made his international debut in the Kapur Test on December 1, 1961. He went on to play 30 Tests, finishing with 2,001 runs at an average of 39.23.
“This was Rajdeep’s idea and I think it is apt,” Nandini told DNA. “We hope to invite prominent and articulate speakers for a discourse on various issues of the game. The CK Nayudu Hall at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) has already been booked. And there is no better person to get this started than Sunil Gavaskar, who knew my husband very closely.”
On Wednesday, the family will also pay a visit to the Seva Sadan, an institution set up in 1908 to protect and empower destitute women and girls in Mumbai, where they’ve organised a dinner for over 100 girls.
“We wanted to spend the day in a meaningful way. This institution is especially close to our hearts,” Nandini said. “We are also going to have talks with the trustees of the institute to set up a scholarship fund in Dilip’s name for the higher education of the girl child.”
There are various other funds and awards already been instituted in the memory of the man many liked to call ‘Sardee’.
This year under-19 pacer Dhaval Kulkarni became the first recipient of the Dilip Sardesai Scholarship. Given by the Mumbai Cricket Association, the scholarship entails a six-week training stint at the Australian Cricket Academy.
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