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| Full name | Eknath Dhondu Solkar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 March 1948 Bombay, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 26 June 2005 (aged 57) Mumbai, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Ekki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling |
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| Relations | Anant Solkar (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 123) | 15 October 1969 v New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 1 January 1977 v England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 8) | 13 July 1974 v England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 22 February 1976 v New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 27 February 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eknath Dhondu Solkar[1] (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]
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Eknath Solkar". The Guardian. 14 September 2005. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Not stars but heroes".
- ^ "Ghost-Spoken – ESPNcricinfo".