The BCCI, Sachin Tendulkar and several other cricketers mourned the sad demise of Bapu Nadkarni
Mumbai: Former India all-rounder Bapu Nadkarni passed away on Friday night (January 17) in Mumbai. He was 86. He was suffering from age-related illness. He breathed his last at his daughter’s residence.
“It is with profound sadness that BCCI has learnt of the passing of former India all-rounder Rameshchandra Gangaram 'Bapu' Nadkarni. The 86-year-old breathed his last at his daughter’s residence in Mumbai on Friday,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah said in a media advisory.
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“The Board shares the pain and grief of the Nadkarni family and prays for the departed soul,” Shah added.
In a Tweet, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar wrote, “Very sad to hear about the demise of Shri Bapu Nadkarni. I grew up hearing about the record of him bowling 21 consecutive maiden overs in a Test. My condolences to his family and dear ones. Rest in Peace Sir.”
Very sad to hear about the demise of Shri Bapu Nadkarni. I grew up hearing about the record of him bowling 21 consecutive maiden overs in a Test. My condolences to his family and dear ones.
Rest in Peace Sir🙏. pic.twitter.com/iXozzyPMLZ
Left-arm orthodox spinner Nadkarni represented India in 41 Test matches and later served as a member of the National Selection Committee and also as the joint secretary of Mumbai Cricket Association. He took 88 Test wickets. He made his Test debut against New Zealand in Delhi in December, 1955. His last Test was in March, 1968, against New Zealand in Auckland.
One of the most economical bowlers to have ever played the game, Nadkarni conceded just 2,559 runs from 9,165 balls he bowled in Test cricket. His miserly Test economy of 1.67 is still the fourth-best among bowlers with a minimum of 2000 balls bowled.
In one of the best displays of frugal bowling, Nadkarni bowled 21 successive maiden overs during the first Test against England at Madras in 1964. His figures read 32-27-5-0. In the fifth and final Test of the same series, he scored 52 not out in the first innings and batted for 418 minutes and remained unbeaten on 122 when India were made to follow on.
In first-class cricket, he again stood out with an economy of just 1.64 despite bowling over 10,000 balls, picking 500 wickets in 191 matches. He also made 8,880 first-class runs with 14 centuries and 46 fifties.
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