PTI, Mumbai :
Former Test cricketer Deepak Shodhan, the first Indian to score a memorable ton in his debut innings, died on Monday at his residence in his birth place, Ahmedabad aged 87.
According to informed sources he died of cardiac arrest on Monday morning after a brief struggle with lung cancer.
Shodhan, a left-handed batsman who could bowl medium pace, played just three Tests in all averaging 60-plus after rescuing India from dire straits by scoring 110 not out in his debut innings against Pakistan in the fifth and final drawn Test at Kolkata in 1952-53, the first series between the two countries after partition.
He had stepped in at No 8 with India tottering at 179 for 6 in reply to Pakitan’s 257 all out and he batted with Dattu Phadkar, GS Ramchand, wicketkeeper Prabir Sen and last man Ghulam Ahmed to guide the team to a 140-run lead.
