Chandu Borde was one of the stalwarts of Indian cricket in the late 1950s and 1960s. He was a fine middle-order batsman, safe fielder and a handy leg-spinner, too. He also captained the Indian side in a Test match in 1967-68 against Australia. It was back in 1952 that Borde made his First-Class debut for Maharashtra against Bombay. He showed that he was a tenacious batsman by amassing a half-century against a formidable foe and that too he came into bat with his side tottering at 74 for 6.

The next season, he also made his mark as a bowler by a picking up a five-for. By 1955-56, he started to play for Baroda. It was the four-wicket haul that he picked up for Baroda against a mighty fine Windies side in a tour game in 1958-59 that finally earned him the chance to play for India.

He didn't exactly start his Test career on a bright note and was even dropped for the third Test against West Indies in Kolkata. He made a welcome return to the side with a hard fought innings of 56 against the likes of Gilchrist and Hall in the next Test in Madras. It was the turning point of his career as he followed it up with a century in the final Test of that series in Delhi. To put the icing on the cake, he composed a brilliant knock of 96 in the second innings as well.

Borde then was in prime form during the series against England in 1961-62. He cracked 314 runs at an average of 44.85 and picked up 16 wickets at 28.75. He wasn't at his best during the home series against West Indies, but came back to form when England again arrived on the shores of India in 1963-64. He even picked up his first and only five-wicket haul during that series.

In the second Test of the 1964-65 series against Australia in Mumbai then, Borde held his nerve by chipping in with a crucial 30 not out to take India to a nerve-wracking win by two wickets. Remember, he was batting at No. 9 in that game. Borde continued to deliver the goods for India by putting up consistent performances against New Zealand in 1965.

In 1966-67, he showed courage and fortitude to stand up to West indies' famed bowling line-up. He scored 345 runs and essayed a couple of centuries. In the third Test in Chennai, when he made a century, a bumper from the fiery Griffith just brushed his hair and he was on 96 then. It was said to be a vicious bouncer and Borde was lucky that he wasn't hurt.

Unfortunately, barring the series against New Zealand in in 1967-68, Borde soon lost his way and played his final match against Australia in Mumbai in 1969-70. Borde continued his association with Indian cricket. He was appointed as the chairman of the selection committee twice. He was the manager of the Indian team when Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut in Pakistan in 1989. He also served as the manager of the Indian unit that won a Test series in England in 2007.

By Bharath Ramaraj