AIR CMDE H. T. DANI

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AIR CMDE H. T. DANI
(24 May 1933 - 19 Dec 1999)

Another gifted cricketer who unfortunately found himself in the list of the 'only debut Test' category, Hemchandra Tukaram "Bal" Dani originally from Solapur, shifted base to Nashik, Maharashtra...

He played his only Test at the age of 19 in November 1952 against Pakistan, at the Brabourne Stadium, Bombay, which India won by 10 wickets...

Opening the bowling with 41 year old Lala Amarnath, Dani held a great catch (A. H. Kardar) and got a wicket (Nazar Mohammad) in the total of 10 overs that he got to bowl in the entire match. He didn't have to bat at all. Evidently, he did not fail in the Test, which meant that there was really no reason to drop him, or to not pick him again for that matter. He toured Pakistan in 1954/55 without playing a Test. The Indian cricket selection procedures having quite often defied logic, it was Test curtains for Dani...

Dani played most of his first class cricket after his Test career was over. Representing Maharashtra, and later Services, in a career spanning two decades (1951/52 - 1972/73), the right-handed allrounder had an impressive domestic performance with both bat and ball, being effective as a medium pacer as well as a slow-break bowler...

He has against his name 6476 runs from 116 matches @44.35, 17 hundreds and 34 fifties, 170* as his highest, 200 wickets @21.90 a piece and 79 catches...

Dani joined the Indian Air Force in 1956 and raised the fortunes of the Services team, both as a player and skipper for many years...

He was a national selector from 1968 to 1975. He was the manager, selector and coach of Maharashtra's Ranji Trophy side between 1989 and 1997...

A B.A. (Hons) degree holder, Dani rose to become an Air Commodore, and retired from service in 1987...

He passed away after a prolonged illness this day, 1999, in Nashik. He was 66...

🙏🙏🌹💐    🇮🇳

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