Chandu Sarwate

Chandrasekhar Trimbak Sarwate  pronunciation  (known as Chandu or Chandra; 22 July 1920 in Sagor, Madhya Pradesh – 23 December 2003 in Indore) was an Indian cricketer. He was an all-rounder who played nine Test matches for India between 1946 and 1951 without much success — his Test batting average was only 13.00, and his Test bowling average was 124.66. He bowled slow leg breaks.

However, in first-class cricket, he had a long career, spanning 32 years, during which he represented Central Provinces and Berar, Maharashtra, Hindus, Bombay, Holkar, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha. His most famous innings was for the Indians against Surrey at The Oval in 1946, when he and Shute Banerjee put on 249 for the last wicket, more than the first nine wickets put together. It is the only time in first-class cricket when the last two batsmen have both scored centuries. It remains the highest partnership in first-class cricket between number ten and eleven batsmen. His highest score was 246 for Holkar against Bengal in 1951, and his best bowling in an innings was 9 for 61 for Holkar against Mysore in 1946. His overall batting average in first-class cricket was 32.73, and his bowling average was 23.54.

Sarwate was a national selector for three years in the early 1980s, and was one of the selectors who picked the Indian team that won the World Cup in England in 1983. Besides being the secretary of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, he was also the chairman of its selection committee on number of occasions. Sarwate held degrees in arts and law and was a fingerprint expert by profession.