Legendary Spinner Passes Away, Took 605 Wickets but Never Got a Chance to Play for India

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): Indian domestic cricket suffered a major loss as one of its greatest spinners, Padmakar Shivalkar, passed away on Monday due to age-related ailments at the age of 84. Despite an illustrious career and over 600 wickets, he never got an opportunity to represent India at the international level.

Shivalkar played 124 first-class matches between 1961-62 and 1987-88, taking 589 wickets at an impressive average of 19.69. In addition, he claimed 16 wickets in List A cricket. His extraordinary performances in domestic cricket, particularly for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, made him one of the finest left-arm spinners in Indian cricket history. He took 13 ten-wicket hauls in the Ranji Trophy alone, a testament to his dominance with the ball.

Despite his consistent brilliance, Shivalkar was overlooked for the national team. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar paid an emotional tribute, expressing regret that he could not convince the selectors to include Shivalkar in the Indian team. Gavaskar stated, "He deserved to play for India more than some other bowlers. He was a match-winner who could dismiss the best opposition batsmen and bowl tirelessly all day."

In 2017, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recognized his contributions by honoring him with the prestigious CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) President Ajinkya Naik mourned the loss, stating, "Mumbai cricket has lost a true legend today. His contribution to the game, especially as one of the finest spinners, will always be remembered."

Gavaskar, deeply saddened by the loss, further added, "Mumbai cricket has lost two of its stalwarts in a short span—Milind and Padmakar. They were the architects of many victories. ‘Paddy’ was a unique personality, and his demise is heartbreaking. Om Shanti."

Despite never wearing the India jersey, Shivalkar's impact on Indian cricket remains undeniable. His legacy as a match-winner, mentor, and Mumbai cricket great will live on in the memories of those who witnessed his brilliance.