Dilip Sardesai

Dilip Narayan Sardesai was an Indian International cricketer. He played Tests for the Indian national team as a batsman, the only Goa-born cricketer to play for India. He was often regarded as one of India’s best batsman against spin. he studied in the New Era High School, Margao. The region had no cricketing infrastructure during his growing days in 1950. So his family moved to Bombay, when he was 17. He attended the city’s Wilson College where his cricketing talent was spotted by coach ‘Manya Naik’.

Cricket Career
Sardesai made his first mark in cricket in the inter-University Rohinton Baria Trophy in 1959-60. where he made 435 runs at an average of 87. He was called up for the trials of the combined Universities team that was to play the touring Pakistan. Impressed by his technique, Lala Amarnath, the Chairman of Selectors, drafted him into the team. Sardesai made the playing XI, thus making his first debut against Pakistan in Pune. He was included in the India team for the Second Test of England’s India tour, in Kanpur in 1961. Later in the season Sardesai toured the West Indies, playing in three of the five Tests. He scored 449 runs in the 5 Test series against England. In 1964-65, he scored a double century aginst New Zealand at Bombay and a very fast hundred at Delhi, which helped them to win the match for India. He played aginst West Indies in 1966-67, and toured England in 1967. He was injured in Lord’s and he was dropped after two Tests in Australia due to injury. He scored 212 aginst West Indies at Sabina Park, Kingston and 200 against New Zealand at Mumbai. He scored 150 against West Indies at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, 112 v/s West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, 106 v/s New Zealand at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi, which were his best performance in his test career. He played for Bombay in the Ranji Trophy in 13 seasons. He scored 199 against Rajasthan in the final. His last first-class match was the famous Ranji Trophy final against Madras.

Honour
The directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Goa, instituted the Dilip Sardesai Sports Excellence Award in 2009, which is given on the occasion of National Sports Day (29 August) each year. The award consists of bronze plaque of Sardesai, a citation and purse of Rs 2,00,000. It is presented to achievers among Goan sports persons who represented India at any International level sports competetion during the preceding year.