Everything about Hemu Adhikari totally explained
Colonel
Hemchandra (Hemu) Ramachandra Adhikari (born
July 31 1919 in
Pune,
Maharashtra — died
October 25 2003 in
Mumbai, Maharashtra) was an
Indian
cricketer, representing his country as both a player and coach in a career that spanned three decades.
A talented right-handed batsman and occasional leg spin bowler, he made his
first-class debut as a teenager before the outbreak of
World War II in the
1936/
37 domestic season. He immediately demonstrated his abilities on the local stage but due to the war, and his role in the Indian armed forces, his career was interrupted.
Adhikari made his
Test debut as a 28 year old in 1947 on India's tour of
Australia and immediately established himself as an important member of the squad, although his continued official role in the army restricted his availability for the team.
Very good at playing
spin bowling and courageous against
fast bowling, Adhikari had some fine moments playing for India, including a national record 109-
run last wicket partnership with
Ghulam Ahmed in a Test against regional rivals
Pakistan. He captained India in one Test as he neared his fortieth birthday, scoring 63 and 40 while batting and taking three important wickets in a drawn game against
the West Indies.
Adhikari took to coaching after retiring from first-class cricket - with a very good
batting average of 41.74 - and was in charge of the Indian team as they established themselves on the world stage. He helped guide India to their first series win in
England in
1971 and was a major reason behind the development of such outstanding cricketers as
Sunil Gavaskar,
Kapil Dev and
Ravi Shastri. Some felt his history with military helped him as a coach, with former national team spin bowler
Bapu Nadkarni saying "Adhikari was a disciplined man. Being a military man, he wouldn't bother about what anybody else thought."
After his death in October 2003, at age 84, tributes flooded in for the popular Indian, with Indian cricket writer
Suresh Menon saying "Adhikari wasn't a big man yet he was a presence. He will be remembered for his role in Indian cricket's self-confidence movement that began with that series win in 1971."
Teams
International
- India (as player and coach)
Indian first-class
Baroda
Gujarat
Hindus
Services
Career bests
Tests
Test Debut: vs Australia, Brisbane, 1947/48
Last Test: vs West Indies, Delhi, 1958/59
Adhikari's best Test batting score of 114 not out was made against West Indies, Delhi, 1948/49
His best Test bowling figures of 3 for 68 came against West Indies, Delhi, 1958/59
His Test captaincy record was: 1 match, 1 draw
Adhikari's best first-class batting score was 230 not out
His best first-class bowling figures were 3 for 2
External links and references
Cricinfo player profile of Hemu Adhikari
HowSTAT! statistical profile of Hemu Adhikari
Cricinfo summary of tributes to Hemu Adhikari after his 2003 death
Article on AdhikariFurther Information
Get more info on 'Hemu Adhikari'.
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