Ranji Trophy final: Chandu Sarwate was Gujarat's stumbling block, feels Jyotindra

The last time Gujarat entered the Ranji Trophy final was way back in 1950-51 when they lost to Holkar by 189 runs

Jyotindra Shodhan

The last time Gujarat entered the Ranji Trophy final was way back in 1950-51 when they lost to Holkar by 189 runs.

Only Jyotindra Shodhan and Mumbai-based Walter D'Souza are living from that Gujarat team which battled hard against the star-studded Holkar side led by CK Nayudu at Indore from March 17 to 21, 1951.

"We could have won that match, but Chandu Sarwate who scored 234 in the second innings survived a run out chance when he was just eight or nine," recalled Shodhan. "That final was played on a matting wicket and there used to be those nails to hold the mat. Sarwate was short of his crease but the throw from one of our fielders hit one of the nails and deflected from the 'keeper. Sarwate went on to score a double hundred and that proved to be the difference in the end," recalled Shodhan.

"None of our top batsmen got a hundred in that match whereas Mushtaq Ali and Sarwate got big hundreds for Holkar. Our off-spinner Jasu Patel was our top-scorer with 152 in the second innings. I got Mushtaq run out for 187. The throw landed on top of the stumps," added Shodhan.

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