chandrakant borde

He started out in the late fifties as India’s most promising young batsman. In the early sixties, he was one of the country’s leading allrounders. And from the mid to the late sixties, he was the bulwark of the Indian batting. So for just over a decade, Borde was very much in the thick of it all. The fact that he was the only Indian in the Rest of the World team that played Barbados in a commemoration match in 1967 speaks of the high regard that the cricketing world had for Borde’s ubiquitous skills. As a batsman, he was capable of every stroke in the book. He modelled his batting after Vijay Hazare, but was a shade more adventurous. He was also a more than able legspinner, capable of winning matches for India, till a shoulder injury in 1964 curbed his bowling. As a fielder, Borde was one of the very best, initially excelling in the outfield and later doing fine work in close in positions.

Borde’s career had a storybook start when in his first Test series he scored 109 and 96 against the all conquering West Indian side in 1958-59. For the next few years, he displayed his allround skills in abundant measure. With Salim Durrani, he played a leading role in India winning the rubber against England in 1961-62. One of the best players of fast bowling, Borde made runs consistently and handsomely against McKenzie, Hall and Griffith. He probably reached his peak when he got two centuries in three Tests against West Indies in 1966-67. He failed on the tour of England that followed and had mixed luck on the Australasia trip in 1967-68. By the end of the decade, his reflexes had considerably slowed down and with the selectors plumping for youth, Borde was one of the first casualties. Happily however he has stayed with the game as manager of touring teams, where his considerable expertise has proved invaluable and as chairman of the selection committee.
Partab Ramchand