- published: 07 Aug 2015
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Dilip Narayan Sardesai pronunciation (help·info) (August 8, 1940, Margao, Goa - July 2, 2007, Mumbai) was a former Indian Test cricketer. He was the only Goan-born cricketer to play for India, and was often regarded as India's best batsman against spin bowling.
Sardesai made his first mark in cricket in the inter-university Rohinton Baria trophy in 1959-60 where he made 435 runs at an average of 87. He made his first-class cricket debut for the Indian Universities against the touring Pakistan team at Pune in 1960-1, scoring 87 in 194 minutes. His immediate success led to selection for the Board President's XI against the same team at Bangalore, where he scored 106*, and then as a standby in the final match of the Test series. He scored 202 against the Madras university at about the same time, and was then selected to represent Bombay in the Ranji Trophy. He was one of the five Indian Cricket Cricketers of the Year in 1960-61.
Sardesai had little to show in first class cricket in 1961-62, except for a 281 against Gujarat in a university match, but made his Test debut in the 2nd Test against England at Kanpur in December 1961. He toured West Indies later in the season, playing in three of the five Tests. He was the batsman at the other end when Nari Contractor was seriously injured by Charlie Griffith in a match against Barbados. Contractor's injury created a place for Sardesai in the team. He scored 31 and 60 in the Test at Bridgetown, opening the batting, but was dropped after a pair in the following match. Sardesai scored 449 runs in the five Test series against England in 1963-64 with 79 and 87 in the 5th and final Test as the most notable performances, helping India to secure a draw after being made to follow on.