M. L. APTE



M. L. APTE
(5 Oct 1932 - 23 Sep 2019)

Starting off as a legspinner in his schooldays, Madhavrao Laxmanrao Apte, the technically correct opener from Bombay hit a century on debut in the Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra in the 1951-52 season, playing in place of the injured Vijay Merchant...

Making his Test debut against Pakistan in November 1952, he became the automatic choice as an opener for the inaugural away tour of West Indies that followed in January 1953...

Scoring 460 runs @51.11 Madhav Apte was second only to Polly Umrigar, ahead of Hazare, Mankad, Roy and Manjrekar. However, despite his match saving century he was, inexplicably and unceremoniously, dropped from the national side and never played an official Test thereafter. Nevertheless, Apte continued with Bombay, being the occasional skipper as well, with enthusiasm and fervour till the late sixties...

With 542 from 7 Tests, which included a ton (163*) and 3 fifties, and 3336 from 67 first class games with 6 tons and 16 fifties, it was pretty much obvious that Madhav Apte was given a raw deal...

As an ardent lover of the game, Apte was always there for anyone seeking help. He had once said in an interview,
“Do you know what is the most remarkable thing about this game? It is one of the few things in life which gives you a second chance.”...

However, as luck would have it, Madhav Apte never got a second chance in his Test career. And as curtains got drawn for Madhav Apte at 7 Tests despite an average of 49.27, his exclusion would probably remain as one of the many unanswered questions of cricket in India...

Apte passed away this day, 2019, in Mumbai after a cardiac arrest at the Breach Candy Hospital. He was 86...


🙏🙏🌹💐   🇮🇳

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