Chandrakant Gulabrao "Chandu" Borde (born July 21, 1934 in
Poona, now Pune) is a
cricketer who was a member of the
Indian team between 1958 and 1970. Following his retirement, Borde became a cricket administrator, serving as the
Chairman of national selectors. He has received various awards from the
Government of India for his contributions to cricket, on and off the field.
Domestic Cricket
Debut
Borde made his debut in
1954/55 domestic season for
Baroda against
Gujarat in
Ahmedabad between December 1954. He played in the semi-final against
Holkar and was bowled for a duck. He had more success in the following season, making maiden century against
Bombay. In the
1957/58 Ranji final against
Services, he scored a half-century and picked up 5 wickets in the match. He represented
Maharashtra after a transfer in 1964.
Test Cricket
The beginning
Borde made his debut in the First
Test during the
West Indies tour of India. Over the first two Tests,, his performance was ordinary and was dropped for the Third Test in favour of debutant
Ramnath Kenny. After a poor performance from Kenny, Borde was recalled and made his maiden Test half-century. In the Fifth and final Test of the series, Borde made his international breakthrough with a maiden century, 109 and then 96 in the second innings of a drawn match.
In the next series, India toured England, and Borde fractured the little finger on the left hand in the First Test, and missed the second Test. Over the next 11 matches, Borde scored only two half-centuries and 14 wickets as Australia and Pakistan toured India. In the Fourth Test against Pakistan in Madras, he made 177*, his second century and highest Test score, combining in a 177-run stand with fellow centurion Polly Umrigar.
Contributions in Indian victories
Borde played a key part in India's first victory over
England in the Fourth Test played in
Eden Gardens, Kolkata, scoring two half centuries (68 and 61) and taking 3 wickets in the First Test. In the next Test in Madras, India won again with Borde taking five wickets.
India's tour of the West Indies in 1961/62 was disappointing, resulting in a 5-0 whitewash. Borde had a mediocre series scoring 244 runs at 24.4 and taking only six wickets. He followed it with good performances in the next two series (England in India, and Australia tour of India) scoring 383 at 42.55 and taking ten wickets in eight Tests.
Kiwi Pleasure
New Zealand toured India in
1964/65 and Borde took a liking to the opposition, scoring a century in
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai in the Third Test.. It was one of three centuries in the series. He finished with 371 runs at 60.81. The series also marked the last time that Borde bowled international level.
Borde followed up the successful New Zealand series with another great individual performance in the home series against West Indies scoring two centuries as India lost the three Test series 2-0.
Honors: RoW XI selection and Test match captaincy
Borde was the only Indian representative in the
Rest of the World XI squad that played against
Barbados in March, 1967.
Borde captained the Indian team in the First Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in December 1967. The Nawab of Pataudi resumed his position as captain in the next match.
Career twilight
Outside his sole Test as captain in Australia, Borde had disappointing performances on the tours to Australia, England and New Zealand scoring 468 runs at 24.67 in 11 Tests with only four half-centuries. Playing only as a specialist batsman, Borde was dropped as part of a youth selection policy, with his place taken by
Gundappa Viswanath after the First Test against Australia at Brabourne Stadium.
Cricket administrator
Borde had two stints as the
chairman of the national selection committee:
- 1984 to 1986
- 1999 to 2002
Apart his duties as chairman of the selection committee, Borde has handled other tasks for Indian cricket and a partial list is listed:
- Manager, India's tour of Pakistan in 1989.
- Pitch curator, Nehru Stadium, Pune (1984 - present).
- Manager, India's tour of Ireland and England in 2007.
Awards
Borde received several awards from Indian government and cricket establishment for his contribution to cricket:
References