Too many cooks
Imagine a cricket team changing its captains like we change our WhatsApp profile pictures! That was team India during the 1958/59 season — six different leaders in seven Test matches.
The conundrum began not on the field, but in the selectors’ room. West Indies were coming to India for a five-match series and each selector had a different vision for the team. Then, came a few unexpected twists and chaos ensued.
When Team India couldn't catch a break!
36-year-old off spinner Ghulam Ahmed had been appointed as the skipper for the series but he had to miss the first match due to a knee injury. Since there was no designated vice-captain, former skipper Polly Umrigar was asked to take charge.
The first Test ended in a draw but India were hammered in the next two matches, both captained by Ghulam Ahmed. With only one wicket to his name in the series, the off- spinner received scathing criticism for his own performance. Following the third match, he suddenly announced his retirement.
The selectors once again turned to Umrigar. However, heated debates regarding the team selection led to him resigning from captaincy on the eve of the fourth Test. In a last minute call, the reins were handed over to veteran all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, who had missed the first three matches over a pay dispute with the BCCI.
Amidst this pandemonium, India slipped to a defeat in the fourth Test as well. Mankad was removed. The selectors declared that the team for the fifth Test would will be picked with the upcoming England tour in mind. Gulabrai Ramchand emerged as the favourite to take over.
In a bizarre turn of events, Ramchand did not even make it to the squad for the final Test and 39-year old Lt. Col. Hemu Adhikari, who hadn’t played for India in more than two years, found himself in the hot seat. The match ended in an honorable draw and Adhikari, who had put in a commendable show with both bat and ball, never played for India again.
Datta Gaekwad was named as the captain for the England tour. However, after leading the team in the first Test, he missed the second due to bronchitis and his deputy Pankaj Roy became India's sixth captain in just seven Test matches.
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