Hemu Adhikari

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Indian
country = India
country abbrev = IND
name = Hemu Adhikari
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman
bowling style = Right-arm leg spin
tests = 21
test runs = 872
test bat avg = 31.14
test 100s/50s = 1/4
test top score = 114*
test balls = 170
test wickets = 3
test bowl avg = 27.33
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 3/68
test catches/stumpings = 8c
FCs = 152
FC runs = 8683
FC bat avg = 41.74
FC 100s/50s = 17/45
FC top score = 230*
FC balls = 4000
FC wickets = 49
FC bowl avg = 37.93
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = 3/2
FC catches/stumpings = 97c
debut date = 28 November
debut year = 1947
last date = 11 February
last year = 1959
source = http://content.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/26179.html

Colonel Hemchandra (Hemu) Ramachandra Adhikari audio|Hemu Adhikari.ogg|pronunciation(born 31 July 1919 in Pune, Maharashtra — died 25 October 2003 in Mumbai, Maharashtra) was an Indian cricketer, representing his country as both a player and coach in a career that spanned three decades.

A talented right-handed batsman and occasional leg spin bowler, he made his first-class debut as a teenager before the outbreak of World War II in the 1936/37 domestic season. He immediately demonstrated his abilities on the local stage but due to the war, and his role in the Indian armed forces, his career was interrupted.

Adhikari made his Test debut as a 28 year old in 1947 on India's tour of Australia and immediately established himself as an important member of the squad, although his continued official role in the army restricted his availability for the team.

Very good at playing spin bowling and courageous against fast bowling, Adhikari had some fine moments playing for India, including a national record 109-run last wicket partnership with Ghulam Ahmed in a Test against regional rivals Pakistan. He captained India in one Test as he neared his fortieth birthday, scoring 63 and 40 while batting and taking three important wickets in a drawn game against the West Indies.

Adhikari took to coaching after retiring from first-class cricket - with a very good batting average of 41.74 - and was in charge of the Indian team as they established themselves on the world stage. He helped guide India to their first series win in England in 1971 and was a major reason behind the development of such outstanding cricketers as Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri. Some felt his history with military helped him as a coach, with former national team spin bowler Bapu Nadkarni saying "Adhikari was a disciplined man. Being a military man, he would not bother about what anybody else thought."

After his death in October 2003, at age 84, tributes flooded in for the popular Indian, with Indian cricket writer Suresh Menon saying "Adhikari was not a big man yet he was a presence. He will be remembered for his role in Indian cricket's self-confidence movement that began with that series win in 1971."

Teams

International

*India (as player and coach)

Indian first-class

*Baroda
*Gujarat
*Hindus
*Services

Career bests

Tests

Test Debut: vs Australia, Brisbane, 1947/48
Last Test: vs West Indies, Delhi, 1958/59
*Adhikari's best Test batting score of 114 not out was made against West Indies, Delhi, 1948/49
*His best Test bowling figures of 3 for 68 came against West Indies, Delhi, 1958/59
*His Test captaincy record was: 1 match, 1 draw

=First-class=

*Adhikari's best first-class batting score was 230 not out
*His best first-class bowling figures were 3 for 2

External links and references

* [http://content.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/26179.html Cricinfo player profile of Hemu Adhikari]
* [http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerOverview.asp?PlayerID=0011 HowSTAT! statistical profile of Hemu Adhikari]
* [http://content.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/133160.html Cricinfo summary of tributes to Hemu Adhikari after his 2003 death]
* [http://www.cricketnext.com/features/legends/legends010.htm Article on Adhikari]

Persondata
NAME=Ramachandra Adhikari, Hemchandra
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Hemu Adhikari
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH=31 July 1919
PLACE OF BIRTH=Pune, Maharashtra
DATE OF DEATH=25 October 2003
PLACE OF DEATH=Mumbai, Maharashtra