• Source:JND
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Dattajirao Krishnarao Gaekwad, India's oldest Test cricketer and former captain, died on Tuesday at his home in Baroda. He was 95.

He breathed his last early this morning after battling for life in the ICU of a Baroda hospital for the past 12 days, a source in the family told PTI.

He made his debut for India in the 1952 tour of England and played 11 Tests overall in his nine-year international career. He scored 350 runs at an average of 18.42.

He was appointed as the Indian team captain in the 1959 tour of England. India lost all five Tests and slumped even in the tour matches but Gaekwad had personal success with his courageous batting as he scored 1174 runs on the tour.

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Dattajirao Gaekwad's only fifty (52) in red-ball cricket for India came against West Indies at New Delhi in 1959. It was also his highest Test score 

In the domestic circuit, Gaekwad was a local star for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy, where he appeared from 1947 to 1961. He scored 3,139 runs at an average of 47.56 with 14 centuries. His best score was 249 not out against Maharashtra in 1959-60.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) extended its heartfelt condolences to Gaekwad's family and friends. 

"The BCCI expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer. He played in 11 Tests and led the team during India’s Tour of England in 1959. Under his captaincy, Baroda also won the Ranji Trophy in the 1957-58 season, beating Services in the final. The Board expresses its heartfelt condolences to Gaekwad's family, friends, and admirers," BCCI wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who also hails from Baroda, said that 'his absence will be deeply felt'.

Gaekwad, who was India's longest-living Test cricketer since mid-2016, is also the father of former India cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who served two terms as head coach of the national team.