Eknath Solkar

Eknath Solkar
Personal information
Full name
Eknath Dhondu Solkar
Born(1948-03-18)18 March 1948
Bombay, India
Died26 June 2005(2005-06-26) (aged 57)
Mumbai, India
NicknameEkki
BattingLeft-handed
Bowling
  • Left-arm medium
  • Slow left-arm orthodox
RelationsAnant Solkar (brother)
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 123)15 October 1969 v New Zealand
Last Test1 January 1977 v England
ODI debut (cap 8)13 July 1974 v England
Last ODI22 February 1976 v New Zealand
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC
Matches 27 7 189
Runs scored 1,068 27 6,895
Batting average 25.42 4.50 29.34
100s/50s 1/6 0/0 8/36
Top score 102 13 145*
Balls bowled 2,265 252 21,721
Wickets 18 4 276
Bowling average 59.44 42.25 29.89
5 wickets in innings 0 0 10
10 wickets in match 0 0 1
Best bowling 3/28 2/31 6/38
Catches/stumpings 53/– 2/– 190/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 27 February 2013

Eknath Dhondu Solkar[1] pronunciation (18 March 1948 – 26 June 2005) was an Indian all-round cricketer who played 27 Test matches and seven One Day Internationals for his country. He was born in Bombay, and died of heart attack in the same city at the age of 57.[1] A specialist close-in fielder, he was regarded as one of the greatest fielders in the world during his playing days. His catches per match ratio is one of the best in Test cricket.

Solkar was a capable batsman with a Test century to his name, and he could bowl fast as well as slow.[1] Solkar was renowned for his excellent close fielding, of which he once remarked, "I only watch the ball."[1] His catches helped India to victory against England at The Oval in 1971, the team's first Test win in England.[1] Eknath's teammate at Sussex Tony Greig once said, "He was the best forward short leg I've ever seen."[2]

His 53 catches in only 27 matches is the best ratio for catches per Test match among non-wicket-keepers with 20 or more Tests. He is responsible for one of cricket's most celebrated quotes, directed at Geoffrey Boycott: "I will out you bloody."[3]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Eknath Solkar". The Guardian. 14 September 2005. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Not stars but heroes".
  3. ^ "Ghost-Spoken – ESPNcricinfo".