Ramakant Achrekar was a famous Indian cricket coach from Mumbai. He is known for coaching young cricketers, especially Sachin Tendulkar, at Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai. The famous coach is credited with the discovery of Sachin Tendulkar. Apart from being the coach of Sachin Tendulkar, Achrekar has many other things worth knowing. Let us know in detail about Ramakant Achrekar’s family, career, biography and more.
Biography/Wiki
Ramakant Achrekar was born on 5 December 1932 (age 86 years at death) in a Marathi family in Malvan village, Maharashtra, British India. His close family members and friends affectionately called him “Baba”. When Achrekar was 11 years old, he came to Bombay (now, Mumbai) with his parents. Achrekar did his schooling from Chhabildas High School in Dadar West and it was here that he started taking interest in cricket.
Ramakant Achrekar’s school Chhabildas High School Dadar Mumbai
He also worked for some time in State Bank, where he met another banker turned cricketer Ajit Wadekar. Achrekar could not become a successful cricketer himself, so he started coaching budding cricketers in Bombay. On his first meeting with Sachin Tendulkar, when Sachin’s elder brother Ajit brought him to Achrekar, he had said-
When I saw Sachin for the first time, he looked like other boys, nothing special. But then I saw him in the nets, and he was moving the ball through the middle all the time, hitting it hard, never defending. His wrist work was good and his reactions were amazing.”
Ramakant Achrekar with Ajit Tendulkar
On Achrekar’s recommendation, 13-year-old Sachin Tendulkar made his debut for CCI at the Brabourne Stadium and a talent was born.
young sachin tendulkar
Young Sachin had to undergo the strict guidance of Ramakant Achrekar; Because he used to practice every day between 7 to 9 in the morning and 3.30 to 6 in the afternoon and in between he used to play matches. Achrekar had a great relationship with his students, and would give them pani puri and kulfi whenever they performed well. However, his bonding with Tendulkar was unique, which can be explained by an example that once, when he was suggesting Sachin to release the grip of his lower hand, on which Sachin became quite reluctant and eventually Achrekar agreed to this. But agreed to hold on. ,
Ramakant Achrekar giving batting tips to Sachin Tendulkar
Another famous story of Achrekar bonding with Sachin is that during the nets, Achrekar used to keep a coin on the stumps and say that whoever takes Sachin’s wicket will get the coin and today, Sachin considers those coins as his most prized possession ever. Considered property. Once, when Tendulkar did not go to watch one of his senior matches, he was slapped hard by Achrekar, who told Tendulkar that-
People should come to see you, not just applaud you from the stands.
Even after reaching the pinnacle of his career, Sachin never forgot to give due respect to his guru Achrekar sir. In his farewell speech in Mumbai in 2013, a teary-eyed Sachin had said-
Sir never told me ‘well played’ because he thought I would be complacent… maybe he can push his luck and wish me all the best now, good in my career because in my life now There is no match, sir.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_-mkWlcdRc
In the late 1990s, Achrekar was paralyzed, due to which, he became less actively involved in cricket coaching.
Family
His father, Vittal Achrekar, was also a cricketer who played for New Hind Club along with Vijay Manjrekar’s father. He had five daughters. One of his daughters, Kalpana Murkar, is also a cricketer turned coach.
Ramakant Achrekar with his family members
livelihood
Ramakant Achrekar played official cricket for the first time in 1943; When he was studying in Chhabildas High School, Dadar. In 1945, he started playing club cricket for New Hind Sports Club and Young Maharashtra XI. Achrekar was a batsman-wicketkeeper and played only one first-class match – for All-India State Bank against Hyderabad in 1964; Where he scored 30 runs. He started coaching around 1967–68. Initially, he worked in the nets at New Hind and another club, Sasanian and later, he founded another club, Kamat Memorial at Shivaji Park, Mumbai. Later, he produced many international players including Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Chandrakant Pandit, Lalchand Rajput, Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Praveen Amre, Sameer Dighe, Ajit Agarkar, Paras Mhambrey, Ramesh Powar, who represented India in Tests and Many others succeeded. In first class cricket.
Ramakant Achrekar with Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli
Awards/Honors
1990: Dronacharya Award
2010: Padma Shri
Death
On 2 January 2019, Ramakant Achrekar died at his residence ‘Manali Apartment’ near Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai due to age-related ailments. In the late 1990s, Achrekar suffered a paralytic attack and was confined to a wheelchair until his death.
Sachin Tendulkar pays last tribute to Ramakant Achrekar
fact
- He is considered to be the most famous cricket coach in India.
- Achrekar’s father was also a cricketer.
- His first student to win a Test cap was Ramnath Parkar.
- Sachin was 11 years old when he first met Ramakant Achrekar.
- Once he slapped Sachin for missing one of his matches to watch a senior player’s match.
- Apart from Sachin Tendulkar, Achrekar had produced many international cricketers including Vinod Kambli, Ajit Agarkar.
- Throughout his career, Achrekar never said to Sachin – “Well played.”
- Ramakant Achrekar played only one first-class match – for All-India State Bank against Hyderabad in 1964; Where he scored 30 runs.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn