Dilip Vengsarkar

Dilip Balwant Vengsarkar also known by the nickanme Colonel is a famous Indian cricketer from Maharashtra. He was born on April 6, 1956, in Rajapur, a city in Maharashtra. He completed his schooling from King George School in Dadar, Mumbai. He pursued his further education from Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics, generally known as RA Podar college in Matunga, Mumbai. He tied the knot with Manali Vengsarkar on August 15, 1981. The couple is blessed with a daughter Pallavi Vengsarkar and a son Nakul Vengsarkar. He practiced and played cricket in his school and college. He played for Dadar Union and also for his state team Bombay (Mumbai in present) in Irani and Ranji Trophy. His first One Day International debut was against New Zealand at AMI Stadium (Lancaster Park at present) in New Zealand on February 21, 1976, and made his International Test debut playing against New Zealand in Auckland on January 24, 1976.

Dilip was a top class batsman of his time. He was the first overseas player to score three consecutive centuries in test match played at Lords and marked his name on the Lord’s honour board three times, this made him achieve the title of “Lord of Lord’s”. He also became the first Indian cricketer to score over 2000 runs in ODI’s. He was rated as the best batsmen in the world according to the appraisal done by Coopers and Lybrand and he managed to be at number one position in the ratings for twenty-one months.

He was awarded by Arjuna Award in 1981 by the Government of India, Padam Shri in 1987, Lifetime Achievement Award by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, CK Naidu Lifetime Achievement award by BCCI on November 21, 2014, Life Membership by MCC Australia and Shiv Chattrapati Award by Government of Maharashtra. He played his last One Day Internationals against South Africa on November 12, 1991 and his last Test match was against Australia on February 5, 1992. He was second to Sunil Gavaskarin runs at the time of his retirement in 1992. He was also offerd by the BCCI to be the match referee in 2006 but he went with the job of chairman of selectors of the BCCI later in 2006. At present he runs the Elf cricket academy in Mumbai and is the Chief adviser of the Cricket Association of Telangana.