Chetan Chauhan, cricketer-turned-politician, was an opening batsman who represented India in 40 Tests and 7 ODIs. Along with Sunil Gavaskar, he formed one of India's best opening partnerships in Test cricket. The pair added 3000+ Test runs, including 10-century opening partnerships. Chauhan and Gavaskar averaged 53.75 runs for the opening wicket, the highest for an opening pair (minimum 1200 runs) in Indian cricket history.

He made his debut against New Zealand in 1969 but was dropped after two Tests. Later in the season, he was chosen to play against Australia, but failed to perform and was dropped for a period of three years. He was once again drafted into the Indian team during 1972/73, owing to his stellar form in the Ranji season. Chauhan played 2 Tests against England but failed to make a mark and was once again dropped. In 1976–77, playing with a fractured jaw, he scored 158 against Haryana. Later that season, he scored 200 against Punjab and 147 versus Karnataka as well. Another hundred in Duleep Trophy early next season earned him a place in the Indian team going to Australia and then began Chauhan's most impressive period with the bat.

In his first match of the tour, he made 157 against Victoria, a gritty knock that included only two fours. He was selected in the playing eleven for the second Test and made 88 runs in his very first innings at Perth. From there on, he became Gavaskar's regular opening partner and only missed one Test match till the end of his career. Chauhan and Gavaskar's best opening partnership came against England in 1979. Chasing a mammoth target of 438 in the fourth innings at the Oval, they added 213 for the opening wicket. The match though ended in a draw as India missed the target by nine runs.

Playing against Australia in 1980-81, Chauhan made 249 runs in three Tests. His highest score in Tests came at Adelaide, where he missed out on his century by 3 runs. In the next Test at Melbourne, Chauhan and Gavaskar added 165 runs for the first wicket before the latter was given out lbw. Gavaskar was extremely unhappy with the decision and asked Chauhan to leave the field with him. Indian manager Wing Commander Shahid Durrani had to intervene and avoided an awkward situation by convincing Chauhan to go back. India toured New Zealand after this trip, where Chauhan could only manage one 50-plus score and that was the last we saw of him in the Indian team.

Chauhan may have garnered 2084 Test runs during his career, but he also holds the dubious distinction of being the first player in Test history to score 2000+ runs without a century. His last first-class game was the Ranji final against Bombay in 1985. Batting with a fractured finger, he made 98 and 54 in that match.

A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Chauhan was a Member of the Lok Sabha from Amroha (Uttar Pradesh) in 1991 and 1998. He is also a recipient of the Arjuna Award.

By Sidhant Maheshwari