Dear Mr.Galgali, I am pleased to see my hero Eknath Solkar. I was 16 yrs. At that time. I was present at Eden's Garden. You brought me back my youthful days. As a Senior Citizen now, you have transported me back to my teenage to bring back the youthful zeal. Thank you very much.
I was at Eden Gardens for this match on all 5 days. There is just one thing. The wicket taking balls are mostly missing. Anyway thank you for this. In those days cricket was truly a gentleman's game. The crowd was knowledgeable and well behaved. I miss those days, truly.
I was quite young then, but listening radio commentary, whenever spinner started bowling, Solker showing how he is taking impossible catches, the great closing fielder Eknath Sadashiv Solker.
Thanks for bringing alive my memories of the test. I was only 14 then and was not allowed to go visit the live match. So we had to depend on live radio commentary and next day's newspaper reports. I still remember the excitement on the morning of the last day and were praying for (now would be called a mystery spinner) Chandra to get the lambu (for tall, in Bengali) Greg as early as possible and set us on the way to victory. Thanks again.
This makes me nostalgic. I was at the Eden on all days of the match. It left a deep imprint on my young mind. There's nothing like those Test matches at the Eden.
I remember to have spent entire days listening to running commentary of this match and other matches of the series with transistor glued to my ears, bunking classes and facing my father's displeasure!! But he was also an ardent cricket fan, and used to follow matches on the radio. What days they were! We used to see news reel snippets of the matches in cinema halls for which we repeatedly watched any trite movie! Thanks for making now longer reels available, and taking me back to the days of my youth. ---Dr. Sharad Rajimwale
I subscribed to your channel right away after I saw this video. People with the charms and manners of the 70's and 80's are needed very much in the internet world of today which is full of ragtag tiktokers. The forward defensive shot played by Sunny at 6:23 is worth so much more than the big candyfloss sixes hit by the IPL paper tigers. Thank you very much. Looking forward to more vintage content. fyi, i was born in the 80s, never saw Gavaskar play live, grew up in the 'Sachin era'. But still, whenever I see the footage of Sunny's fighting centuries against the Aussies and the Westindians, I get to see what 'impeccable technique' really means. And then when I see him appreciating and lauding the greats who arrived on the scene after him, I realize how great a man he is. A hero with a big heart.
I was 20+ but we used to see these shots when we saw a movie. I never thought someone will put them on you tube after 40 years and I can see them again.
I WAS NOT EVEN BORN IN THAT TIME,I HAVE HEARD OF THOSE LEGENDS FROM MY FATHER WHO IS NO MORE NOW,THANK YOU SIR! YOU ARE RENDERING A GREAT SERVICE TO INDIAN CRICKET HISTORY!
🙏Thanks for sharing 🙏 1972-73 I was 16 years. I had seen match at Brabourne Stadium at Mumbai. Eknath Solakar was staying at Thakurdwar, mumbai, nearby my locality. He was giving a training to youngsters free of charge on marindrive ground.
Solkar was a reason behind the golden moments of the fabulous four spinners. Batsmen of opposite team dreaded Chandra, Bedi, Prasanna and Venkat and those four spinners banked upon Solkar.
I have seen their many matches at Green Park from 62 to 66, even I saw Poly Umreegar and Kundran at Kanpur station on Kalka Mail where I went to receive my Brother in Law, they were standing out of Ist cl compartment and 2 persons were talking to them. Umrigar was so tall that the Bat he was handling was looking like a Juniors bat.
Solkar. The bravest of the brave, standing without any protection at the ' suicidal ' forward short leg position, within handshaking distance from the batsman, showing quicksilver presence of mind and lightening reflexes. There will not be another like him.
Thanks for such video. I was only 10 years studying in std 4. Old Arnold and Underwood were famous triputi at that time . One day cricket came after so many years but farookh engineer great wicketkeeper was popular and there was belief in our city that he converts each ball into fulltoss and hits hard.
I enjoyed each test match by listening commentary on radio till TV came in Surat in 1985. What a poetic commentary in Hindi by Shri Sushil doshiji. He was creating actual picture of game by his comments and commentary.
Sri ಗಲಗಲಿ ಸರ್ ಅವರೇ... ನೀವು ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಕ್ರಿಕೆಟ್ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೇಳ್ತೀರಿ.ನೀವು ನಮ್ಮ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ ಎನ್ನುವದಕ್ಕೆ ನಮಗೆ ಅಭಿಮಾನ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ರಾಜಣ್ಣನ ಫೋಟೋ ನೋಡಿ ಪುಳ ಕಿತನಾದೆ. ನಮಸ್ಕಾರಗಳು ತಮಗೆ ...ಮೇಲಿಂದ ಮೇಲೆ ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನಿಮ್ಮ ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಹಾಕಿ ಇದು ನಮ್ಮಗಳ ಅಭಿಲಾಷೆ....🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
The crowd that gathered for Test matches then is stunning. Amazing how people enjoyed radio commentary.Nowadays with so much cricket all year, rarely people talk about Test cricket let alone watching.
Kapil paaji has always praised Solkar's fielding. Kapil paaji also mentioned that Solkar had safest hands and he knew where the ball would land even before the batsman himself did. Solkar had that foresight and pre-initiative due to which his catches always seemed to be effortless!
I belong to that generation being 60 year old...I used to enjoy cricket coverage by listening to radio...now it is thrilling to watch those videos.....
But hardly 10% of the population knew about cricket those days. Parents were strictly against school going kids listening to commentary. Following sports was a crime.
Brilliant. I was too young to understand cricket leave alone understand English commentary. I do remember, setting up the radio for my father to listen to. Great game and what an atmosphere at Eden. One of regrets will be not watching Solkar's catches off of Chandra & Bedi.
Eknath Solkar's father was working for P.J.Hindu Gymkhana. Marine drive Mumbai probably managing the Cricket pitch for cricket maches played there. As a growing up child he used practise diving on hard surfaces, cement floors where he learned the art of diving & converting no catch into catches by jumping from leg slip right under the bat of batsmans & converting balls into catches from defensively played balls from the close feet of the prayers.
Thanks for sharing this gem of a match, narrated by the inimitable Raju Bharatan. Even with so few runs on the board to support them, the Indian spinners displayed fine craftsmanship to weave a web around the Englishmen. One could see how Solkar's contribution was so crucial.
It's correct that Eknath Solkar was one of the best Indian close-in fielder of his days. Whenever he was stationed at the forward short leg position, every batsman had to be extremely cautious with his shot. And that too the shot in which the batsman had to play a simple block shot. Practically every batsman of the opposing team grew very apprehensive whenever Solkar stood at forward short leg. So much so that at one time Tony Greig, the tall English batsman, with his long reach always got out due to the catch taken by Solkar of the bowling of the four Indian spinners in B.S. Chandrashekhar, B.S. Bedi, E.A.S.Prasanna and Venkatraghavan. In fact Tony Greig, at one time threatened saying; "One day I shall smash Eknath Solkar's face for him". This was because Greig invariably, always became Solkar's victim. This was Eknath Solkar !
How can we forget the remarks made by.. .. 'it is a full-blooded shot and Evey Indian fielders looking to the boundary lines forgetting the fact Shoulder is in between taking the ball from his pocket indicating the catch.
Sometime 60,s my uncle,s office collegue one Mr Benny Avon an AngloIndian used to visit us at home and over a tea, would chat about football and cricket. I remember he saying" Guru, this kid Solkar is going to excel and play for India very soon". My uncle used to always remember Benny whenever Solkar played. Note that he was the Hindu Gymkhana gardner, s son and lived in a ramshackle hut adjoining the ground. His sheer athleticism and all-round performance on the field made him a certain place in the India side. Opening lefhand newball bowler and sometimes batsmen too. Geoff Boycott was his usual "bakra".
Nostalgia! iirc, When Faroukh Engineer led in the absence of Wadekar he showed some brilliant acumen the way he juggled with spinners and putting England on the back foot right at the beginning of the innings. Probably along with ML Jaisimha, he was the one of the best captains India did not use.
@@jaani3028 Saari Zindagi cricket khailne walon ko yehi samajh main aata he, ke kya hi acchha hota jo samajh main na aata, jis ko samajh nahi aya woh kaheen aur fit ho gaya, jo uss k kaam aa gaya. Samajhne wala samajh k phans gaya aur barbaad ho gaya, abhi tak Jaan nahi chhoti cricket se, time ka ziyaan bhi alag huwa, kuchh haath nahi aaya. Anisur Rehman Khan, Advocate, Karachi, Pakistan
I was just in class three when I had a chance encounter with Eknath Solkar,,Anshuman Gaikwad,brijesh Patel,and one more eminent cricketer whose name I do not remember,,,,,,,certainly Solkar was my fav as he was applauded by all around those days,,,tks for sharing this lovely video as we were having access to only audio commentary but could never see the video
Not even possible for great Jonty. Such a muscle memory at a time when cricket was not even a profesion. Just imagine how much practice was devoted for the passion.
In my childhood my cousins used to play cricket while singing the names of Eknathsolkar Saleem duraani.engineer pataudi nawab Now I am seeing.at the age 66 Yr great feeling is there Kotha srinivasarao
Salim Durrani was an all-rounder player who used to hit a six on public demand on hit out or grt out mode. Sadly he died recently with tough life without much savings or money on him like today's players earn over 100 to 1000 crores each thanks to advertisements & media coverage of the matches.
Thank you for sharing these moments. Very happy to see all greats playing. Very very very thanks for glimpses Vishys shots. My hero. I was 10 years old but already a big fan of Gundappa Vishwanath, at that time
Whenever I see the present day fielders wearing helmets for close fielding in FSLg I always remember Eknath Solkar.The great close in fielder India produced. If Solkar is near, batsmen even feared to play defence because the ball will be in Solkar's hand before it touches ground.The diving and the stylish poses are extraordinary.Great Indian player. Nobody can ever forget him.
Mr Jairaj, it is a wonderful retrieval of the magnetic hoodwink of Solkar, the stylish Durani, the flamboyant Engineer , the snaring spinning trio, the Colonel Wadekar and of course the springy Gavaskar whose just one dogged defensive posture is a lesson.Jairaj Saab ,a great effort you have shown in your passionate, as you always are, foreword to the game.Sir, I am looking forward to have a glimpse of 5years later of this match at Eden in 1977. Tony Greig cliched the test by 22runs.May be I am wrong, but it was my first test match oñ Doordarshan. Please see if you get hold of the snippets.
Yes, 'Ekky',was always great those helmetless-days.I played good Cricket with him&with Kaka too when they were with Mafatlals.He was a Bindas Guy both on & off the field.I always think of him on his Birthday-March18th.I really miss him.
Solkar and his superb close-in catching. He brought the forward short-leg, into prominence, standing at almost hand-shaking distance from the batsman. Surely, batsmen had reason to feel threatened. But Solkar came up with amazing catches, which were the talk of the cricket pundits at that time. Was there a better short-leg than Solkar during that time? I think, he was the best in the world, in that position.
rhodes used to field at point or cover ,if he had showed his prowess fielding as near as solkar?!?!__just inches away of hand shaking distance from striker___but he stood very much far than solkar___rhodes no match for our Eknath.....
@@indiaone9485 Jonty was also an excellent fielder, and the cricketing world is witness to his superb feats on the field. His catches, diving full length, or leaping high, or plucking catches only centimetres from the turf, Jonty Rhodes had plenty of it. Solkar was given that specialist position and, he, at forward short-leg, came up with stunning catches, amazing ones, and the spin trio/ quartet of Chandra, Bedi, Pras and Venkat reaped rich rewards. Both Solkar and Rhodes are great fielders and will always be remembered in the distinguished Hall of Fame.
FULLY AGREE,WITH YOU SIR. EKNATH SOLKAR SIR MUST BE REGARDED AS THE BEST CLOSE IN FIELDER OF ALL TIME! AS MOST OF THE TEST NATIONS BOWLING ATTACK (EXCEPT PAKISTAN) WAS DOMINATED BY FAST BOWLERS,MOST OF THE TEAMS DID'NOT KEEP ANY CLOSE IN FIELDER IN EITHER FORWARD SHORT LEG,SHORT LEG,OR SILY POINT ! ONLY PERHAPS ON THE 4TH&5TH DAY, AFTER LUCH BREAK,WHEN THERE WAS SOME HELP FOR SPINNER,THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT OF PUTTING SAFER SHORT SQUARE LEG, BACKWARD SHORT LEG, SILY MID ON,SILY MID OFF TO THE ONLY 1QUALITY SPINNER &1 AVARAGE SPINNER!THAT TOO IF THE BATSMEN WERE SUSPECT AGAINEST SPINNER ,&THE WICKET WAS ALSO ASSISTING .SPECIALLY AGAINST ASIAN PLAYERS THEY AVOIDED THE RISKY FORWARD SHORT LEG IN EARLY 30''S TO 60'S,AS WEARING PROTECTING HELMETS WAS NOT IN PRACTICE. .I AM 100%SURE IF SOLKER SIR WOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD TO WEAR HELMET IN HIS COLLAGE DAYS BY HIS CRICKET COACH,COLLEAGUS, OR WELL WISHER,HE WOULD HAVE STRAIGHT AWAY REJECTED.HE WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND HIM SELF IN COMFORTABLE POSITION.ALSO SOLKAR SIR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS AGILE,&BRILLIANT AS HE ACTUALLY TURNED OUT! IN MY PERSONAL OPINION SOLKAR SIR'S CATCHING QUALITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED IN 1963-64,BY A POOL OF5-1OTOP A' GRADE CRICKET COACHES.& THEY SHOUD HAVE RECOMMENDED THE BOARD,SELECTION COMMITEE IN WRITING TO PICK SOLKER SIR FOR THE TWIN HOME SERIES V/S AUS-ENG IN 1964.IF AS AN ALLROUNDER IT WAS REALISTICALLY NOT POSSIBLE TO PLAY SOLKAR.SIR IN THE 11,SR RUSI SURTI WAS ALLREADY THERE, THE BUNCH OF 'A' GRADE COACHES SHOULD HAVE STRONGLY TOLD BCCI,SELECTION PANEL TO NAME SOLKER SIR 'THE OFFICIAL12 TH MAN FOR BOTH SERIES! SO THAT EVEN IF,HE WAS NOT ABLE TO STAND AT HIS FAVOURITE FSL POSITION,HE COULD HAVE FIELDED IN RUN SAVING DEEP POSITIONS ,&SAVED MANY RUNS FOR INDIA.AFTER PLAYING 8TEST MATCHES VS 2 TOUGH TEAMS PURELY AS 12TH MAN,SOLKER SIR COULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 11 EITHER FOR 1ST(IF POSSIBLE),OR 2ND OF 1965 TEST V/S COMPARATIVELY EASY N.Z.(POSITIVELY).HENCE PLAYINING IN ATLEAST 2 OF 4 TEST MATCHES IN HOME CONDITIONS,SOLKER SIR WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED IMMENCELY AT FSL TO THE SPINNERS &TEAM! PERHAPS HE WOULD HAVE MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE TO THE FULLY BATTING DOMINATED DULL SERIES! BY INTRODUCING SOLKAR SIR IN THE 65 N. Z.SERIES, INDIAN,ASIAN,WORLD CRICKET WOULD HAVE BENIFITTED A. LOT! AFTER ALL GOD GIFTED GEMS ARE BORN ONLY ONCE IN OUR LIFETIME! SALUTE TO THE FSL GENIOUS!
Solkar catch is the only thing that would still be called insanely good, everything else humanity has surpassed. And that shows how great Solkar really was for the times he was in.
Nice video. I played good cricket with' Ekky'!We hv learnt a lot from him!! His birthday coming on this 18th(March).Let's all wish him&his family well with good wishes&love. RIP#Eknath Dhondu Solkar.
I was in 1st year B Com at Kolkata. I vividly remembers these matches. These were golden days in our life on those days. Though we were not gone to watch the match ( frankly we did not have means to buy the tickets) and was following the match over radio since it was Christmas Vacation and it was cold fit to wear sweater in day time. I remembers I along with our local boys went to Eden Gardens walking from our home which was 4 km from our home to join the victory march with burning torch, since, whenever there was any event like final day of Cricket match, Football match between Mohan Bagan and East Bengal or Osdibisha Band in Town to perform, Pele came to play on Platinum Jubilee exhibition match, police used instruct buses trams to withdraw from streets. If result is good or bad there was probability of public property damages. I remember when we reached Eden Garden India had just won the match, the police were there but they did not stop us to enter through the Gate of Eden Garden and we joined by another 30 thousand crowd along with already existing 70 thousand crowd in the stadium to celebrate the victory.
First match i followed by radio commentary which india won. India won the third test at chennai also and win the series 2-1. Kanpur and bombay tests drawn.
I heard with Engineer behind the stumps, Wadekar in the Slips and Rusi Surti, Elknath Solkar and Venkatraghavan in close fielding positions, India had one of the finest fielding sides in the world specially for spinners the fabulous four that was Bishen Singh Bedi , Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar and Venkatraghavan. Any videos with Rusi Surti will be most welcome.
Es cricketiers ke har naam hamako yaad hai jab main choty thi tabhi TV etc nahi the lekeen redio par commentry soonakar har cricketiers ke naam pata thye aur woh bhi etani ahamitase apana khel khelatey tye bahot khub jay Bharat
Just curious and viewed and frankly telling it's an awesome presentation. Thanks a lot. From my childhood memory listening the bengali Commentery by Ajoy Bose, Kamal Bhattacharya and Pushpen Sarkar and this was the first cricket match.If possible, provide any batting clip of most handsome Salim Durani. Regards.
Eknath Solkar is one of the greatest, if not the greatest close in fielders in the history of Test Cricket. I have seen him field elsewhere in Ranji Trophy match at the Eden Gardens. He is simply amazing !!!
He was adored by d nickname ' Mr. Dependable'. for whenever India was in crisis he was there to score . 'एक हाथ खोलकर ' for he was so quick at Forward Shortleg that he converted a no chance into a comfortable catch. ' गरीबों का Sobers ' being outstanding Allrounder. I was a diehard fan of E.D. Solkar n had d privilege to see his performance Live at K.D.Singh Babu Stadium Lucknow in an Exhibition Match perhaps in d year 1972.
Mr Galgali, thanks a lot for sharing such historical sports event to christen our memory. I would request you to share the video of match between India vs West Indies in 60s at Eden Garden. The Team manager was Frank Orell, Gary Sobers was Captain, Conrad Hunt, Rohan Kanhai, Dujon, Andy Mary, Hall Griffith, were in team. India's Captain MAK Pataudi, dileep sardesai, mangerekar, ML Jaishima, Chandu Borde, Salim Durani, Bapu Nadkarni etc were in team.
Crucket today is not a game of art. It's hit out or get out & therefore one sees so many sixers beint hit in every game which wS very rare in old days. To the best of my information G.R.Vishanath a south Indian married his best friend Sunil Gavasker's sister.
First series to be shown live. Tony Lewis led MCC. B&W at neighbours place and the feeling of having defeated the English was there to be seen on all Indian faces, young and old, male and female
Im lucky to watch golden epic matches ,and your voice has magical that we heard in school days
I am one of the fortunate spectators present on all the five days at Block L of the Eden Gardens .
I am the biggest fan of Sholkar. So much joyful of seeing rare video. Hats off to U.
Dear Mr.Galgali,
I am pleased to see my hero Eknath
Solkar. I was 16 yrs. At that time. I was present at Eden's Garden. You brought me back my youthful days.
As a Senior Citizen now, you have transported me back to my teenage to bring back the youthful zeal.
Thank you very much.
Respected sir,I don't know why time passes and we become old!!!if human life is used to to good works towards humanity,how nice?
Brings back memory of my first year in college. I was glued to a small transistor radio in between classes. Remember India won !!
Thank you for sharing the marvelous 3 fours of G R Vishvanath
I was at Eden Gardens for this match on all 5 days. There is just one thing. The wicket taking balls are mostly missing. Anyway thank you for this. In those days cricket was truly a gentleman's game. The crowd was knowledgeable and well behaved. I miss those days, truly.
Here in England the crowd is still like this for test cricket. Come and visit, if you can.
@@ajs41 Stop spreading your colonialism. Enjoy ur Barmy Army!!!!
I was also present for 5 days
I was quite young then, but listening radio commentary, whenever spinner started bowling, Solker showing how he is taking impossible catches, the great closing fielder Eknath Sadashiv Solker.
Actually it is Eknath Dhondu Solkar
When Child. Shri Anupam Gulati was cricket for me. Yajuvendra Singh.Gulam Parkar. Mark Burgess. Derek Randal. Better fielder's of the time .then.
His name is E.D. Solkar n if my memory serves me right then D stands for ' Dhondu '
Eknath Solkar was the BEST close in fielder the whole world has ever seen
Thanks for bringing alive my memories of the test. I was only 14 then and was not allowed to go visit the live match. So we had to depend on live radio commentary and next day's newspaper reports. I still remember the excitement on the morning of the last day and were praying for (now would be called a mystery spinner) Chandra to get the lambu (for tall, in Bengali) Greg as early as possible and set us on the way to victory. Thanks again.
This makes me nostalgic. I was at the Eden on all days of the match. It left a deep imprint on my young mind. There's nothing like those Test matches at the Eden.
The first Test I got to see .. in my school days .. thank you for bringing back the memories !
Thanks for showing this match
My self taken cricket training under eknath solkar at p j hindu Gymkhana mumbai in year 1984
I remember to have spent entire days listening to running commentary of this match and other matches of the series with transistor glued to my ears, bunking classes and facing my father's displeasure!! But he was also an ardent cricket fan, and used to follow matches on the radio. What days they were! We used to see news reel snippets of the matches in cinema halls for which we repeatedly watched any trite movie! Thanks for making now longer reels available, and taking me back to the days of my youth.
---Dr. Sharad Rajimwale
I subscribed to your channel right away after I saw this video. People with the charms and manners of the 70's and 80's are needed very much in the internet world of today which is full of ragtag tiktokers. The forward defensive shot played by Sunny at 6:23 is worth so much more than the big candyfloss sixes hit by the IPL paper tigers. Thank you very much. Looking forward to more vintage content.
fyi, i was born in the 80s, never saw Gavaskar play live, grew up in the 'Sachin era'. But still, whenever I see the footage of Sunny's fighting centuries against the Aussies and the Westindians, I get to see what 'impeccable technique' really means. And then when I see him appreciating and lauding the greats who arrived on the scene after him, I realize how great a man he is. A hero with a big heart.
I had seen Solkar's catches on news reels ( highlights) before movies started in movie theaters. 🏏🏏🏏 Salute to Solkar.
I was 20+ but we used to see these shots when we saw a movie. I never thought someone will put them on you tube after 40 years and I can see them again.
Yes. There will be a half hour show.
That Solkar catch was even impossible now days... Legendary fielder of all time..
Solkar has always been a source of inspiration,as a fielder.salute to this fielding genius.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Jairaj Bhai, Thanks, you brought back fond memories of 1972-73 series.
I WAS NOT EVEN BORN IN THAT TIME,I HAVE HEARD OF THOSE LEGENDS FROM MY FATHER WHO IS NO MORE NOW,THANK YOU SIR! YOU ARE RENDERING A GREAT SERVICE TO INDIAN CRICKET HISTORY!
❤❤
❤❤
Salim Durani was such a batsman who can hit sixes on public demand! What a nice time it was!
🙏Thanks for sharing 🙏
1972-73 I was 16 years. I had seen match at Brabourne Stadium at Mumbai.
Eknath Solakar was staying at Thakurdwar, mumbai, nearby my locality. He was giving a training to youngsters free of charge on marindrive ground.
Solkar was a reason behind the golden moments of the fabulous four spinners. Batsmen of opposite team dreaded Chandra, Bedi, Prasanna and Venkat and those four spinners banked upon Solkar.
Thank you. I was delighted to see Solkar on your video! I am that gen myself!
I have seen their many matches at Green Park from 62 to 66, even I saw Poly Umreegar and Kundran at Kanpur station on Kalka Mail where I went to receive my Brother in Law, they were standing out of Ist cl compartment and 2 persons were talking to them. Umrigar was so tall that the Bat he was handling was looking like a Juniors bat.
Solkar. The bravest of the brave, standing without any protection at the ' suicidal ' forward short leg position, within handshaking distance from the batsman, showing quicksilver presence of mind and lightening reflexes. There will not be another like him.
Thanks for such video. I was only 10 years studying in std 4. Old Arnold and Underwood were famous triputi at that time . One day cricket came after so many years but farookh engineer great wicketkeeper was popular and there was belief in our city that he converts each ball into fulltoss and hits hard.
Thanks Galgali ji. Bcoz of you I could the yesteryear heroes of Indian Cricket about whom I only read n heard about.
I enjoyed each test match by listening commentary on radio till TV came in Surat in 1985. What a poetic commentary in Hindi by Shri Sushil doshiji. He was creating actual picture of game by his comments and commentary.
70000 crowd for a test match is unimaginable these days Tony
Greig was sensation in this series.
Sri ಗಲಗಲಿ ಸರ್ ಅವರೇ...
ನೀವು ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಕ್ರಿಕೆಟ್ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೇಳ್ತೀರಿ.ನೀವು ನಮ್ಮ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ ಎನ್ನುವದಕ್ಕೆ ನಮಗೆ ಅಭಿಮಾನ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ರಾಜಣ್ಣನ ಫೋಟೋ ನೋಡಿ ಪುಳ ಕಿತನಾದೆ.
ನಮಸ್ಕಾರಗಳು ತಮಗೆ ...ಮೇಲಿಂದ ಮೇಲೆ ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನಿಮ್ಮ ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಹಾಕಿ ಇದು ನಮ್ಮಗಳ ಅಭಿಲಾಷೆ....🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
The crowd that gathered for Test matches then is stunning. Amazing how people enjoyed radio commentary.Nowadays with so much cricket all year, rarely people talk about Test cricket let alone watching.
Here in England the grounds are still 100% full for test match cricket. I was at Edgbaston this year for a match against Australia and it was packed.
Kapil paaji has always praised Solkar's fielding. Kapil paaji also mentioned that Solkar had safest hands and he knew where the ball would land even before the batsman himself did. Solkar had that foresight and pre-initiative due to which his catches always seemed to be effortless!
Thanks Sir for sharing this priceless video
Thank you very much for such video.
I belong to that generation being 60 year old...I used to enjoy cricket coverage by listening to radio...now it is thrilling to watch those videos.....
But hardly 10% of the population knew about cricket those days. Parents were strictly against school going kids listening to commentary. Following sports was a crime.
Yes
Brilliant. I was too young to understand cricket leave alone understand English commentary. I do remember, setting up the radio for my father to listen to. Great game and what an atmosphere at Eden. One of regrets will be not watching Solkar's catches off of Chandra & Bedi.
I heard this match by radio running commentary on those days. I feel happy to see visuals now. Thank you.
Thank you Sir. U are reminding my young days. Can you Show us Match when G.R. Vishwanath. Scoring first test Century. Regards 🙏
Eknath Solkar's father was working for P.J.Hindu Gymkhana. Marine drive Mumbai probably managing the Cricket pitch for cricket maches played there. As a growing up child he used practise diving on hard surfaces, cement floors where he learned the art of diving & converting no catch into catches by jumping from leg slip right under the bat of batsmans & converting balls into catches from defensively played balls from the close feet of the prayers.
Thanks for sharing this gem of a match, narrated by the inimitable Raju Bharatan. Even with so few runs on the board to support them, the Indian spinners displayed fine craftsmanship to weave a web around the Englishmen. One could see how Solkar's contribution was so crucial.
It's correct that Eknath Solkar was one of the best Indian close-in fielder of his days. Whenever he was stationed at the forward short leg position, every batsman had to be extremely cautious with his shot. And that too the shot in which the batsman had to play a simple block shot. Practically every batsman of the opposing team grew very apprehensive whenever Solkar stood at forward short leg.
So much so that at one time Tony Greig, the tall English batsman, with his long reach always got out due to the catch taken by Solkar of the bowling of the four Indian spinners in B.S. Chandrashekhar, B.S. Bedi, E.A.S.Prasanna and Venkatraghavan.
In fact Tony Greig, at one time threatened saying; "One day I shall smash Eknath Solkar's face for him". This was because Greig invariably, always became Solkar's victim. This was Eknath Solkar !
RESPECTED SIRJI!IN WHICH TEST SERIES TONY GREIG TOLD SOLKAR SIR THAT HE WILL SMASH SOLKAR SIR'S FACE ?
How can we forget the remarks made by.. .. 'it is a full-blooded shot and Evey Indian fielders looking to the boundary lines forgetting the fact Shoulder is in between taking the ball from his pocket indicating the catch.
wonderful match to cherish. wonderful commentry
I was a student at Manchester University in the seventies. There I was witness to Engineer’s huge popularity among the Lancashire fans.
I was there. Age 11. In Eden. Nostalgia erupted.
Sandip Da
Eknath solkar was the best fielder in Indian cricket no body near to him
SPECIALLY forward short leg good filder
Sometime 60,s my uncle,s office collegue one Mr Benny Avon an AngloIndian used to visit us at home and over a tea, would chat about football and cricket. I remember he saying" Guru, this kid Solkar is going to excel and play for India very soon". My uncle used to always remember Benny whenever Solkar played. Note that he was the Hindu Gymkhana gardner, s son and lived in a ramshackle hut adjoining the ground. His sheer athleticism and all-round performance on the field made him a certain place in the India side. Opening lefhand newball bowler and sometimes batsmen too. Geoff Boycott was his usual "bakra".
Hahaha. That's a wonderful to read anecdote. Loved it ☺️
Ekki was a miracle man.Best fielder the world has ever seen.Man for crisis,a typicle middle class survival skills.
Nostalgia! iirc, When Faroukh Engineer led in the absence of Wadekar he showed some brilliant acumen the way he juggled with spinners and putting England on the back foot right at the beginning of the innings. Probably along with ML Jaisimha, he was the one of the best captains India did not use.
I'm very lucky guy who heard commentary on radio in schools day
from there till now I'm fan to cricket
Why you couldnt afford a TV?
Ekanath Solkar gave full support to our Spinners by Taking Sharp wonderful Catches at Close in positions. MKS.
Thank you for bringing up these lovely recordings.....God bless!
I was 7 then. Was at Eden Gardens with my father. What a match. Sweet memories. Thanks for the post sir👏👏👏
7 saal k bache ko kya smj aata hai match ka??
@@jaani3028
Saari Zindagi cricket khailne walon ko yehi samajh main aata he, ke kya hi acchha hota jo samajh main na aata, jis ko samajh nahi aya woh kaheen aur fit ho gaya, jo uss k kaam aa gaya. Samajhne wala samajh k phans gaya aur barbaad ho gaya, abhi tak Jaan nahi chhoti cricket se, time ka ziyaan bhi alag huwa, kuchh haath nahi aaya.
Anisur Rehman Khan, Advocate, Karachi, Pakistan
Fond memories of my childhood. I get goose bumps every time I watch your clips.
Pearson Surita with his flawless accent & command over language was on air when Wadekar stroked 4 successive boundaries off Underwood!!!
I was just in class three when I had a chance encounter with Eknath Solkar,,Anshuman Gaikwad,brijesh Patel,and one more eminent cricketer whose name I do not remember,,,,,,,certainly Solkar was my fav as he was applauded by all around those days,,,tks for sharing this lovely video as we were having access to only audio commentary but could never see the video
Eknath Solkar is a live wire. Ball could not escape from his palms during fielding. I like his his dedication. ❤️❤️
Eknath Dhondu Solkar - the world's greatest close-in fielder of all times.
My favorite cricketer always...
Wow... Thanks for sharing❤
Excellent knowledge
Not even possible for great Jonty. Such a muscle memory at a time when cricket was not even a profesion. Just imagine how much practice was devoted for the passion.
In my childhood my cousins used to play cricket while singing the names of
Eknathsolkar Saleem duraani.engineer pataudi nawab
Now I am seeing.at the age 66 Yr great feeling is there
Kotha srinivasarao
70's Kolkata, a buzzing place with its vibrant middle class.
Thank you Sir for uploading such old players of my young days.
Keep up this great work
Salim Durrani was an all-rounder player who used to hit a six on public demand on hit out or grt out mode. Sadly he died recently with tough life without much savings or money on him like today's players earn over 100 to 1000 crores each thanks to advertisements & media coverage of the matches.
Thank you for sharing these moments. Very happy to see all greats playing. Very very very thanks for glimpses Vishys shots. My hero. I was 10 years old but already a big fan of Gundappa Vishwanath, at that time
Whenever I see the present day fielders wearing helmets for close fielding in FSLg I always remember Eknath Solkar.The great close in fielder India produced. If Solkar is near, batsmen even feared to play defence because the ball will be in Solkar's hand before it touches ground.The diving and the stylish poses are extraordinary.Great Indian player. Nobody can ever forget him.
Great presentation. Wonderful narration. 👏👏👏🙏
Mr Jairaj, it is a wonderful retrieval of the magnetic hoodwink of Solkar, the stylish Durani, the flamboyant Engineer , the snaring spinning trio, the Colonel Wadekar and of course the springy Gavaskar whose just one dogged defensive posture is a lesson.Jairaj Saab ,a great effort you have shown in your passionate, as you always are, foreword to the game.Sir, I am looking forward to have a glimpse of 5years later of this match at Eden in 1977. Tony Greig cliched the test by 22runs.May be I am wrong, but it was my first test match oñ Doordarshan. Please see if you get hold of the snippets.
Thank. Yuo. Jai. Sir. For. My. Favorite. Super. Solker
You have golden voice Sir....!!!
Was greatly privilaged to have seen this test live.
Yes, 'Ekky',was always great those helmetless-days.I played good Cricket with him&with Kaka too when they were with Mafatlals.He was a Bindas Guy both on & off the field.I always think of him on his Birthday-March18th.I really miss him.
Prabhakar Kmv
Wow! Would love to learn more about your memories. You should consider blogging for the sake of all his fans.
Please do
Feel really proud when I read such comments for my dad. We all do miss him. Thanks
Of course,always yaar! So how u r doing?!? & how's everybody at Sports Field!? Love to all sporting guys! God bless!👍💐
Amazing fearless highly talented player - it was a joy to watch him
It was a treat to watch solkar
Very precious video
Super sir 🙏
Solkar and his superb close-in catching. He brought the forward short-leg, into prominence, standing at almost hand-shaking distance from the batsman. Surely, batsmen had reason to feel threatened. But Solkar came up with amazing catches, which were the talk of the cricket pundits at that time. Was there a better short-leg than Solkar during that time? I think, he was the best in the world, in that position.
rhodes used to field at point or cover ,if he had showed his prowess fielding as near as solkar?!?!__just inches away of hand shaking distance from striker___but he stood very much far than solkar___rhodes no match for our Eknath.....
@@indiaone9485 Jonty was also an excellent fielder, and the cricketing world is witness to his superb feats on the field. His catches, diving full length, or leaping high, or plucking catches only centimetres from the turf, Jonty Rhodes had plenty of it.
Solkar was given that specialist position and, he, at forward short-leg, came up with stunning catches, amazing ones, and the spin trio/ quartet of Chandra, Bedi, Pras and Venkat reaped rich rewards.
Both Solkar and Rhodes are great fielders and will always be remembered in the distinguished Hall of Fame.
FULLY AGREE,WITH YOU SIR. EKNATH SOLKAR SIR MUST BE REGARDED AS THE BEST CLOSE IN FIELDER OF ALL TIME! AS MOST OF THE TEST NATIONS BOWLING ATTACK (EXCEPT PAKISTAN) WAS DOMINATED BY FAST BOWLERS,MOST OF THE TEAMS DID'NOT KEEP ANY CLOSE IN FIELDER IN EITHER FORWARD SHORT LEG,SHORT LEG,OR SILY POINT ! ONLY PERHAPS ON THE 4TH&5TH DAY, AFTER LUCH BREAK,WHEN THERE WAS SOME HELP FOR SPINNER,THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT OF PUTTING SAFER SHORT SQUARE LEG, BACKWARD SHORT LEG, SILY MID ON,SILY MID OFF TO THE ONLY 1QUALITY SPINNER &1 AVARAGE SPINNER!THAT TOO IF THE BATSMEN WERE SUSPECT AGAINEST SPINNER ,&THE WICKET WAS ALSO ASSISTING .SPECIALLY AGAINST ASIAN PLAYERS THEY AVOIDED THE RISKY FORWARD SHORT LEG IN EARLY 30''S TO 60'S,AS WEARING PROTECTING HELMETS WAS NOT IN PRACTICE.
.I AM 100%SURE IF SOLKER SIR WOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD TO WEAR HELMET IN HIS COLLAGE DAYS BY HIS CRICKET COACH,COLLEAGUS, OR WELL WISHER,HE WOULD HAVE STRAIGHT AWAY REJECTED.HE WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND HIM SELF IN COMFORTABLE POSITION.ALSO SOLKAR SIR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS AGILE,&BRILLIANT AS HE ACTUALLY TURNED OUT! IN MY PERSONAL OPINION SOLKAR SIR'S CATCHING QUALITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED IN 1963-64,BY A POOL OF5-1OTOP A' GRADE CRICKET COACHES.& THEY SHOUD HAVE RECOMMENDED THE BOARD,SELECTION COMMITEE IN WRITING TO PICK SOLKER SIR FOR THE TWIN HOME SERIES V/S AUS-ENG IN 1964.IF AS AN ALLROUNDER IT WAS REALISTICALLY NOT POSSIBLE TO PLAY SOLKAR.SIR IN THE 11,SR RUSI SURTI WAS ALLREADY THERE, THE BUNCH OF 'A' GRADE COACHES SHOULD HAVE STRONGLY TOLD BCCI,SELECTION PANEL TO NAME SOLKER SIR 'THE OFFICIAL12 TH MAN FOR BOTH SERIES! SO THAT EVEN IF,HE WAS NOT ABLE TO STAND AT HIS FAVOURITE FSL POSITION,HE COULD HAVE FIELDED IN RUN SAVING DEEP POSITIONS ,&SAVED MANY RUNS FOR INDIA.AFTER PLAYING 8TEST MATCHES VS 2 TOUGH TEAMS PURELY AS 12TH MAN,SOLKER SIR COULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 11 EITHER FOR 1ST(IF POSSIBLE),OR 2ND OF 1965 TEST V/S COMPARATIVELY EASY N.Z.(POSITIVELY).HENCE PLAYINING IN ATLEAST 2 OF 4 TEST MATCHES IN HOME CONDITIONS,SOLKER SIR WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED IMMENCELY AT FSL TO THE SPINNERS &TEAM! PERHAPS HE WOULD HAVE MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE TO THE FULLY BATTING DOMINATED DULL SERIES! BY INTRODUCING SOLKAR SIR IN THE 65 N. Z.SERIES, INDIAN,ASIAN,WORLD CRICKET WOULD HAVE BENIFITTED A. LOT! AFTER ALL GOD GIFTED GEMS ARE BORN ONLY ONCE IN OUR LIFETIME! SALUTE TO THE FSL GENIOUS!
Solkar catch is the only thing that would still be called insanely good, everything else humanity has surpassed. And that shows how great Solkar really was for the times he was in.
Many thanks for uploading this priceless video.
Nice video. I played good cricket with' Ekky'!We hv learnt a lot from him!! His birthday coming on this 18th(March).Let's all wish him&his family well with good wishes&love. RIP#Eknath Dhondu Solkar.
I was in 1st year B Com at Kolkata. I vividly remembers these matches. These were golden days in our life on those days. Though we were not gone to watch the match ( frankly we did not have means to buy the tickets) and was following the match over radio since it was Christmas Vacation and it was cold fit to wear sweater in day time. I remembers I along with our local boys went to Eden Gardens walking from our home which was 4 km from our home to join the victory march with burning torch, since, whenever there was any event like final day of Cricket match, Football match between Mohan Bagan and East Bengal or Osdibisha Band in Town to perform, Pele came to play on Platinum Jubilee exhibition match, police used instruct buses trams to withdraw from streets. If result is good or bad there was probability of public property damages. I remember when we reached Eden Garden India had just won the match, the police were there but they did not stop us to enter through the Gate of Eden Garden and we joined by another 30 thousand crowd along with already existing 70 thousand crowd in the stadium to celebrate the victory.
Great match....great to see the old gems of yesteryear....however sadly disappointed to see most of the wickets the video is cut
First match i followed by radio commentary which india won.
India won the third test at chennai also and win the series 2-1.
Kanpur and bombay tests drawn.
I heard with Engineer behind the stumps, Wadekar in the Slips and Rusi Surti, Elknath Solkar and Venkatraghavan in close fielding positions, India had one of the finest fielding sides in the world specially for spinners the fabulous four that was Bishen Singh Bedi , Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar and Venkatraghavan.
Any videos with Rusi Surti will be most welcome.
Es cricketiers ke har naam hamako yaad hai jab main choty thi tabhi TV etc nahi the lekeen redio par commentry soonakar har cricketiers ke naam pata thye aur woh bhi etani ahamitase apana khel khelatey tye bahot khub jay Bharat
Just curious and viewed and frankly telling it's an awesome presentation. Thanks a lot. From my childhood memory listening the bengali Commentery by Ajoy Bose, Kamal Bhattacharya and Pushpen Sarkar and this was the first cricket match.If possible, provide any batting clip of most handsome Salim Durani. Regards.
Durrani used to be called sixer durrani.
Eknath Solkar is one of the greatest, if not the greatest close in fielders in the history of Test Cricket. I have seen him field elsewhere in Ranji Trophy match at the Eden Gardens. He is simply amazing !!!
He was adored by d nickname ' Mr. Dependable'. for whenever India was in crisis he was there to score .
'एक हाथ खोलकर ' for he was so quick at Forward Shortleg that he converted a no chance into a comfortable catch.
' गरीबों का Sobers ' being outstanding Allrounder.
I was a diehard fan of E.D. Solkar n had d privilege to see his performance Live at K.D.Singh Babu Stadium Lucknow in an Exhibition Match perhaps in d year 1972.
Great fast bowling! No helmets! Really daring !
Down memory lane.
Thanks a lot.
I was present in the stadium and enjoyed the match.
Mr Galgali, thanks a lot for sharing such historical sports event to christen our memory. I would request you to share the video of match between India vs West Indies in 60s at Eden Garden. The Team manager was Frank Orell, Gary Sobers was Captain, Conrad Hunt, Rohan Kanhai, Dujon, Andy Mary, Hall Griffith, were in team. India's Captain MAK Pataudi, dileep sardesai, mangerekar, ML Jaishima, Chandu Borde, Salim Durani, Bapu Nadkarni etc were in team.
Crucket today is not a game of art. It's hit out or get out & therefore one sees so many sixers beint hit in every game which wS very rare in old days. To the best of my information G.R.Vishanath a south Indian married his best friend Sunil Gavasker's sister.
First series to be shown live. Tony Lewis led MCC. B&W at neighbours place and the feeling of having defeated the English was there to be seen on all Indian faces, young and old, male and female
The 1969 Delhi Test against Bill Lawry's Aussies was the first Test to be shown live. I watched it on TV.
@@pramathanathsastry369 Oh Delhi had TV much before Tony Lewis toured India ,other cities disat have TV then
@@pramathanathsastry369Yes. I am referring to the first test match to be seen live on tv in mumbai
:: Thank You So Much Sir for uploading this Video. Thanks a lot
This catch I had seen . What a catch took Solkar. Amazing.
Thanks for loading such as a nice match.I was following this match through newspaper The Hindu