Dilip Doshi: The magic spinner who helped India win historic 1981 MCG test with a broken foot

Time of India

4 hours ago

Former India left-arm spinner
Dilip Doshi
, who carved out a niche for himself despite being in the shadows of
Bishan Singh Bedi
, died due to cardiac arrest in London on Monday, the Saurashtra Cricket Association said.
He was 77 and is survived by his wife Kalindi, son Nayan, who has also played first- class cricket, and daughter Vishakha.
Doshi made his Test debut in 1979 after Bedi's retirement and played his last of his 33 games in 1983.
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In those matches, he took 114 wickets with six five-wicket hauls and was exceptional at home during the first three seasons, completing 100 scalps in just 28 Tests.
'Playing with fractured toe'
His finest hour was getting five wickets in India's Test win at the MCG in 1981 when the visitors defended a paltry target.
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Doshi bowled with a fractured toe and was literally unplayable on an up-and-down MCG track. Doshi, Karsan Ghavri and the peerless Kapil Dev won that game for India.
He was also a stalwart in English county circuit having plied his trade for more than a decade there. He represented Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire.
In the Indian domestic circuit, he played for Bengal and Saurashtra. In all he had a staggering 898 first-class scalps with 43 five-fors.
He was Bengal's go-to man in Ranji Trophy for years.
While Bedi remains India's greatest left-arm spinner, Doshi was one of the most accurate bowlers who would flight the ball when required and was very accurate for the better part of his career.
The touring Australian, English and West Indies teams found it difficult to handle his arm balls, and it was Javed Miandad, who actually hastened his exit from international cricket during the 1982-83 series against Pakistan.
After retirement, he had migrated to London where he became a successful businessman.
He would divide his time between London, Mumbai and Rajkot, and it was quite strange that the BCCI never bothered to use Doshi's expertise.
Sir Gary's praise for Doshi
Sir Garfield Sobers had once said of Doshi: "Dilip Doshi has an immeasurable knowledge to pass on to those who want to follow his path into professional cricket. He has played at all levels over the world and there can be no one more qualified to talk about the art of spin bowling."
Cricket fraternity on Doshi's death
Former India cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri wrote on X,"Really sad to hear about the passing of Dilip Doshi. Always immaculate, a gentleman to the core and a fine, fine bowler. Heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace."
"Heartbreaking to hear about Dilip bhai's passing. May God give strength to his family and friends to bear this loss. Nayan, thinking of you buddy," former India captain and spinner Anil Kumble wrote on X.
Sachin Tendulkar paid an emotional tribute on X, recalling their first meeting in the UK in 1990. 'I met Dilipbhai for the first time in the UK in 1990, and he bowled to me in the nets on that tour. He was really fond of me, and I reciprocated his feelings. A warm-hearted soul like Dilipbhai will be deeply missed. I will miss those cricketing conversations which we invariably had. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti,' Tendulkar wrote.