India’s oldest living Test cricketer Deepak Shodhan passes away aged 87

Deepak Shodhan, who was the first ever Indian to hit a century on debut passed away at the age of 87. He was the oldest living Indian Test cricketer. Shodhan was at his home in Ahmedabad was suffering from lung cancer since February 2016. Shodhan played only three Test matches for India despite being a wonderful domestic player.

Shodhan played for Gujarat and played domestic cricket till 1963, before announcing his retirement from First-Class cricket in the same year. Shodan’s demise now make Datta Gaekwad the oldest living Indian Test cricketer at 87.

Shodhan, a left-hander who had scored a hundred on Test debut against Pakistan at Eden Gardens at the age of 25, was left out of the side after scoring 181 runs at 60.33 — the best average among Indian Test cricketers with completed careers. Shodhan struck a memorable 110 runs batting at No,8, helped India attain a lead of 140 runs. The match ended in a draw for India. Shodhan went on to play two more Tests for India in the tour to West Indies in 1953, scoring just 71 runs in 2 matches.