Former Mumbai cricket stalwart Vasudeo Paranjpe passed away in Mumbai on Monday at 82.
Paranjpe, whose son Jatin played ODI cricket for India and had served as national selector recently, was the captain of Dadar Union Cricket Club and had captained former Indian batting mainstays Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar.
“Vasoo was a mentor, an outstanding coach. He was a captain and a mentor,” recalled Dilip Vengsarkar to IANS.
“His life revolved around cricket. He used to inspire young cricketers, talk to them and guide them,” added Vengsarkar who played under him at Dadar Union in early 1970s when the club shared an iconic rivalry with Shivaji Park Gymkhana. The rivalry was known as the Mumbai version of Battle of Roses, originally the name given to Lancashire vs Yorkshire rivalry in County Championship match.
Current India coach Ravi Shastri tweeted his condolences, saying, “Really saddened at the demise of Vasoo Paranjape. He was an institution in the game with a real positive vibe in whatever he did. Condolences to @jats72 and the family. God bless his soul.”
He also earmarked Sachin Tendulkar for future greatness.
In a book written on him by son Jatin Paranjpe titled “The Cricket Drona- for the love of Vasoo Paranjpe”, India opener Rohit Sharma pays regards to him: “When I look back, I realise how shrewdly Sir had forged the path that led me to the world stage of cricket. I was not from a big club or a big school or a college team. I was an outlier. But Sir’s recommendations to Pravin Amre, Kiran More and Dilip Vengsarkar got people talking about me, and I delivered on that promise. Without Sir by my side in those early years, I would not have been able to achieve as much as I fortunately have.”
Paranjpe represented Mumbai and Baroda, and played 29 first-class matches, scoring 785 runs.
