Dattatraya Gajanan Phadkar or popularly known as 'Dattu' Phadkar was an all-rounder, who represented India during the later half of 1940s and 1950s. Phadkar, was a handy batsman, swung the ball both ways and a fine fielder in the slips, too. Phadkar made his Test debut against Australia in Sydney in 1947. He straightaway made his mark by essaying a fifty.

In fact, it was a series in which he gave a good account of himself with the bat in hand. Many still reminisce the 188-run stand that he put on with Vijay Hazare in Adelaide. He topped the batting charts for India in that series. Those fine performances with the bat was followed by the all-rounders taking a 7-for against the touring Windies in Chennai in 1949. In that series, he also made an impact in the Test in Delhi by taking four scalps.

In the 1951-52 series against England, Phadkar shone brightly with a ton in Kolkata. Even when India toured the Old Blighty in 1952 and lost four wickets without a single run on the board in the second innings, Phadkar stood up to the challenge of facing up to Fred Trueman and Alec Bedser with aplomb by composing a fifty.

Phadkar continued to come up with noteworthy performances for the next few years. He played his final Test against West Indies in Kolkata in 1958. He passed away at the age of 59 in 1985.

By Bharath Ramaraj