Sandeep Patil brought with him oozing star appeal ahead of his time. There were more dedicated exponents of batting in the team. Yet, crowds — especially the fairer sex — flocked to watch the handsome, often erratic, and superbly talented batsman from Bombay, with a penchant for attractive stroke-play and frequent big hits.
He was an instant success on his first tour in 1980-81. At Sydney, a Rodney Hogg bouncer hit him on the throat, but he continued to bat attractively. At 65, before another short ball from Len Pascoe struck him above the ear forcing him to retire hurt. He returned in the second Test at Adelaide to produce a scintillating exhibition of counter-attack to hit 174 against all odds. It propelled him to instant fame and he started appearing on soft drink and other commercials of the day — thus far the domain of only Sunil Gavaskar. However, in the next 14 innings, he crossed fifty only twice — giving an indication of the inconsistency that would dog him right through his career.
Dropped from the side, he made a comeback at Old Trafford in 1982, launching into one of the most brutal assaults. Adding 96 with Kapil Dev in an hour, he raced to 129 not out, in the process taking 4, 4, 4 (no ball), 0, 4, 4, 4 off a Bob Willis over. But after another century in India’s first ever Test against Sri Lanka, Patil suffered another spate of low scores.
He was back as a hero during the Prudential World Cup of 1983 — especially remembered for his blistering half-century in the semi-final against England.
Yet, his form deserted him again during the home series against Pakistan and West Indies that followed.
It dented neither his confidence nor his popularity. Soon, he published his autobiography Sandy Storm while still very much an active cricketer. The next year, he belted 127 on a featherbed at Faisalabad, his fourth and last Test century.
The home Test against England at Delhi proved to be the last straw on Patil’s erratic career. Needing to bat out the final day, Patil at the crease with 41 along with the solid Ravi Shastri when he tried to launch Phil Edmonds out of the ground and was caught at long-on. Kapil was out to a similar skier off Pat Pocock and India collapsed to defeat. In the resulting disciplinary action, both Patil and Kapil were dropped from the side for the next match at Calcutta.
While Kapil was back for the fourth Test, Patil never played Test cricket again. His place in the side was usurped by a lanky, wristy youth named Mohammad Azharuddin.
Yet, the next year saw Patil rising to a new level of stardom by starring in a Bollywood movie.
Patil did tour England in 1986, but played only a couple of ODIs. Later that year, Patil announced his retirement from First-class cricket.
He did make a comeback to First-Class cricket, captaining Madhya Pradesh for five years with reasonable success, sporting a rather substantial white tinged beard.
He later became a coach and Chairman of Selectors.
Arunabha Sengupta
Career | M | In | R | NO | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
Test | 29 | 47 | 1588 | 4 | 174 | 36.93 | 2091 | 75.94 | 4 | 7 | 187 | -- | 12 | 0 |
ODIs | 45 | 42 | 1005 | 1 | 84 | 24.51 | 1144 | 87.84 | 0 | 9 | 67 | 6 | 11 | 0 |
T20s | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
World Cup | 8 | 8 | 216 | 1 | 51* | 30.85 | 161 | 134.1 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Career | M | B | R | W | Avg | EC | SR | 5WI | 10WM | BBI | BBM |
Test | 29 | 645 | 240 | 9 | 26.66 | 2.232 | 71. | 0 | 0 | 2/28 | 3/52 |
ODIs | 45 | 864 | 589 | 15 | 39.26 | 4.090 | 57.60 | 0 | 0 | 2/28 | 2/28 |
T20s | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
World Cup | 8 | 54 | 61 | 0 | -- | 6.777 | -- | 0 | -- | 0/36 | 2/28 |
Test Debut
India v Pakistan at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, January 15, 1980
Last Test
India v England at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, December 12, 1984
ODI Debut
Australia v India at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, December 6, 1980
Last ODI
England v India at Old Trafford, Manchester, May 26, 1986
The 63-year-old cited the example of India's 1983 World Cup final triumph against the mighty Windies, saying the match proved how ...
Ajinkya Rahane, who has been India's best bet in overseas conditions, struggled during the New Zealand Tests, managing 91 runs across ...
When asked about the idea of four-day Tests, Patil's initial reaction was 'it's nonsense'.
The police registered an offence under sections of the Information Technology Act, he said, adding that search was on for the ...
The scheduling of the domestic calendar has come under harsh criticism with tournaments like the Irani Cup being played after the Ranji ...
Patil also reckoned opener Murali Vijay was not given a fair outing in England.
A team of Indian international cricketers who have never played T20 cricket and have featured prominently after 1985.
Yashpal Sharma is a former Indian cricketer known for his courageous and improvising batting in the middle-order.
The incident occurred during Pakistan's tour of India in the 1983-84 season.
“Pink-ball cricket gives people the opportunity of coming to the cricket after a day at work, and if that opportunity can be allied to ...
Let us know your choice for the next Indian coach by giving you precious vote to one of the candidates mentioned below.
Its latest topical, which is titled ‘#Amul Topical: 57 applicants for the prestigious post’, is a witty take on the long list of ...
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians - Match 5
Kolkata Knight Riders
Match begins at 19:30 IST (14:00 GMT)
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh - 1st Test
21 Apr, 2021 10:00 IST
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh - 2nd Test
29 Apr, 2021 10:00 IST
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Malaysia vs Netherlands - Match 2
18 Apr, 2021 12:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Malaysia vs Netherlands - Match 5
21 Apr, 2021 12:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - 1st Test
29 Apr, 2021 13:00 IST
Harare Sports Club, Harare
Nepal vs Netherlands - Match 1
17 Apr, 2021 14:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
19 Apr, 2021 14:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Nepal vs Netherlands - Match 4
20 Apr, 2021 14:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
22 Apr, 2021 14:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - 1st T20I
21 Apr, 2021 14:30 IST
Harare Sports Club, Harare
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - 2nd T20I
23 Apr, 2021 14:30 IST
Harare Sports Club, Harare
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - 3rd T20I
25 Apr, 2021 14:30 IST
Harare Sports Club, Harare
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match 10
18 Apr, 2021 15:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match 14
21 Apr, 2021 15:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Match 19
25 Apr, 2021 15:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals - Match 24
29 Apr, 2021 15:30 IST
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd T20I
14 Apr, 2021 18:00 IST
SuperSport Park, Centurion
South Africa vs Pakistan - 4th T20I
16 Apr, 2021 18:00 IST
SuperSport Park, Centurion
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Match 6
14 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals - Match 7
15 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings - Match 8
16 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match 9
17 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings - Match 11
18 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals - Match 12
19 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians - Match 13
20 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings - Match 15
21 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals - Match 16
22 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians - Match 17
23 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match 18
24 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals - Match 20
25 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match 21
26 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Match 22
27 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match 23
28 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match 25
29 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd T20I
14 Apr, 2021 18:00 IST | 12:30 GMT
SuperSport Park, Centurion
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Match 6
14 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST | 14:00 GMT
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals - Match 7
15 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST | 14:00 GMT
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
South Africa vs Pakistan - 4th T20I
16 Apr, 2021 18:00 IST | 12:30 GMT
SuperSport Park, Centurion
Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings - Match 8
16 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST | 14:00 GMT
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
South Africa vs Pakistan - 2nd T20I
South Africa beat Pakistan by 6 wickets
Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings - Match 4
Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 4 runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match 3
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 10 runs
South Africa vs Pakistan - 1st T20I
Pakistan beat South Africa by 4 wickets
Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals - Match 2
Delhi Capitals beat Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets