By IANS
Dubai : Dilip Sardesai brought about a renaissance in Indian cricket, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said here Tuesday, paying tributes to the former batsman who died in Mumbai at age 66.
"Dilip helped bring about a renaissance in Indian cricket," he said in a statement released by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
"My first Test was in the West Indies in 1971 when Dilip was perhaps at his very best. He showed us how to play fast bowling and in doing so gave us the confidence we needed to beat the West Indies," said the opening batsman who aggregated 774 Test runs in the series.
Sardesai's Test tally of 642, at an average of 80.25 and including a magnificent 212 in the first Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica, was second only to Gavaskar's.
"He was a great influence on me as a player and someone I always looked up to," said Gavaskar, who belongs to Mumbai where Sardesai also lived.
"He was a very popular member of the team and a bit of a prankster. He was great fun to have around the dressing room and he always lifted the spirits. I was lucky to have him there when I first broke into the Indian side in 1971."
Gavaskar also remembered Eknath Solkar, who was part of the 1971 team.
"Two years ago, another of the greats, Eknath Solkar, passed away, and I think Indian cricket is much poorer for the loss of these two giants of our game," he said.
"It is very sad and I want to pass my condolences to his family at this difficult time but they should know that Dilip will always be remembered as one of the important men of Indian cricket."
In 30 Tests between 1961 and 1972, Sardesai scored 2,001 runs at 39.23, including five centuries with 212 as his highest knock.
Sardesai was cremated Tuesday.