Cricketer, captain, coach, film actor, selector — Sandeep Patil has got many roles in his six-decade life, but his quest for good life continues
For a tall man, Sandeep Patil is ironically famous for short stints. These include a film career and being coach of the Indian team for six months in 1996.
Even his 29-Test playing career was short. He was part of the Indian Test team from 1980 to 1986, but played his last Test in 1984. Pundits reckon he could have played longer given his talent. In a five-year span, three of his four hundreds were scored overseas. Two of those were memorable efforts, the first being 174 against Dennis Lillee, Len Pascoe and Rodney Hogg at Adelaide in 1981 after being knocked unconscious by Pascoe in the previous Test at Sydney. The next year, he carted England’s Bob Willis for 24 runs in an over for his second Test century.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sandeep Patil
Patil didn’t play the previous Test at Lord’s; wanted to quit cricket only to be cajoled over dinner by his then captain Sunil Gavaskar and counselled through a letter by his first Ranji Trophy captain Ashok Mankad. Patil also wrote a letter to his parents in Mumbai in which he expressed his desire to retire from cricket. But things changed after that dinner with Gavaskar.
Raj Singh Dungarpur, manager of the team for that tour, also played an encouraging hand. Rajbhai once told me about the team meeting held before the opening Test at Lord’s: “We announced that Sandeep won’t be playing the Test and Ghulam Parkar would be making his debut. Instantly, Sandeep got up from his chair and hugged Ghulam. It showed what a great sportsman he was.”
Even Patil would admit that he’s not the type who will think long and hard to take a decision. The late journalist Sharad Kotnis, his mentor at Shivaji Park Youngsters club, told me Patil informed him of his retirement on the 1986 London to Mumbai flight which brought Kapil Dev’s victorious team back home. Kotnis, who worked for an afternoon newspaper back then, got home and was typing his story when Patil’s father Madhusudan called to say he should ignore what his son told him about his retirement and that he had dissuaded him from quitting. Not that Patil wore his India colours often after that, but Kotnis’ scoop didn’t materialise.
Patil didn’t require any conflicting view when it came to calling it a day from first-class cricket. When the pacy Abey Kuruvilla toppled him in a Times Shield match, he knew it was time to go. He served Madhya Pradesh well as captain and coach; a stint which resulted in MP reaching the 1992-93 Ranji Trophy semi-finals where they lost to eventual champions Punjab.
Not many cricketers live life to the fullest as Patil. When not on duty as chairman of selectors, he spends time in the kitchen, cooking a variety of cuisines either at his suburban home or his pad amidst the naturally beautiful Lavasa or at Chowk, near Panvel where he has built a make-believe railway station called Patilwadi.
At the moment, Patil is on selectorial duty in the West Indies where he did not tour as a player. He could have been among Kapil Dev’s 1982-83 tourists there but opted out of the tour due to a shoulder injury and on personal grounds, although there was talk that he chose not to tour because he had signed a contract to act in a film.
While doing a book together on cricket anecdotes in 2005, Patil related a hilarious, near-unbelievable story concerning Javed Miandad. The perky Pakistani accompanied Patil to the crease as soon as he reached the ground from the dressing room in one of the Tests in 1982-83. Then, Miandad started to act as a make-up man on the sets for cricket’s latest ‘film star’.
To use a filmy term, Patil has played many roles in his six-decade life and he’s enjoyed a fair bit of success. He streamlined things as head of the National Cricket Academy before becoming chief selector in 2012. He has taken some tough calls in his current role as chief selector, although one would have liked to see a stronger impact when he was Mumbai’s chairman of selectors (a post which he quit twice).
There was a time when Patil yearned to be utilised by the Indian cricket board. He made himself available for India after guiding Kenya to a semi-final finish in the 2003 World Cup, but opportunities were few and far between.
While chatting in his Shivaji Park living room in 2007, Patil had no qualms in saying on the record that he felt unwanted. “I am not hurt but yes, I feel I am unwanted. I will accept it. Last year, they wanted me to be with the ‘A’ team in Abu Dhabi. I spurned the offer. If they want me, they should give me an extended run,” he said.
Despite his frustration, he remained grateful to the BCCI. He was quick to clarify: “Look, I’m not complaining about BCCI. In fact, I am grateful to them for many things. They send me a R35,000 cheque every month and in my playing days they were spot on with financial aid for medical expenses. They spent R60,000 in those days (1980s) for my shoulder operation. These things are not easily forgotten.”
Likewise, it’s not easy to forget Sandeep Patil too — his batting deeds, his astute captaincy, his street smart coaching and of course, his never-ending quest for the good life.
mid-day’s group sports editor Clayton Murzello is a purist with an open stance. He tweets @ClaytonMurzello. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
