OTD in 1945: Sudhir Naik, the Bombay opener who made his Test debut at Edgbaston, was born 

Former India and Bombay cricketer Sudhir Nair, who played five international matches, was born on the 21st of February in 1945. On the back of his courageous batting, he was given his maiden India call-up in 1974. He was picked on the squad as an opening batter for the England tour. 

After being dismissed for 4 in the first innings, Naik showed resilience in the second innings, top-scoring with 77 in a losing effort. He then played two ODI matches for India on the same tour. He went on to play two more home Tests against the West Indies, which ultimately marked his final season representing India. Naik had an impressive career for Bombay, excelling in the Ranji Trophy with 2,687 runs a

t an average of 40.10, including a highest score of 200 not out against Baroda in the 1973–74 season. However, his most notable achievement came in 1970–71 when he led Bombay to an unexpected Ranji Trophy triumph. Despite a severely depleted squad, with key players away on national duty in the West Indies, Naik’s strategic leadership and effective use of limited resources showcased his astute captaincy.

In addition to representing India, he captained Bombay in the Ranji Trophy for several years. Even after his playing days, he remained deeply involved in the game, coaching at his National Cricket Club in Mumbai. Under his mentorship, the club produced Indian cricket stars like Zaheer Khan and Wasim Jaffer, as well as Mumbai players such as Rajesh Pawar, Raju Sutar, and Paras Mhambrey.

Starting in 2005, he took on the role of Ground In-Charge at Wankhede Cricket Stadium, overseeing the pitch and outfield preparations for matches. He was responsible for crafting the highly acclaimed surface and outfield at Wankhede, which hosted the final of the 2011 World Cup.

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