Meet the NCP leader who dismissed Sunil Gavaskar in Cooch Behar Trophy

Mumbai (Maharashtra): The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council (Upper House) Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, who dismissed little master Sunil Gavaskar in the Cooch Behar Trophy, stepped down from the Chairman post of Legislative Council. His tenure comes to an end in July.

Born in a royal Phaltan family, Nimbalkar is 29th descendant of Chatrapati Shivaji’s first wife Rani Saibai. His political achievements are very well known, but very few people know about his Cricket career.

In the 60s, when Cooch Behar Trophy was a very well known India's national cricket tournament for under-19 players.

It was a sunny day in 1964 when Sunil Gavaskar and Nimbalkar were leading Mumbai and Maharashtra teams respectively. In a match against Maharashtra, Gavaskar provided a good start to Mumbai and went on to hit a brilliant knock. It was a do or die situation for the Maharashtra team to qualify for the next round of the Cooch Behar Trophy. 

After trying all bowling options, captain Nimbalkar came on bowling attack with his leg-spin bowling. His inside turning delivery dismissed Gavaskar and provided a much-needed breakthrough for his team.

Remembering that achievement, Nimbalkar said, "At that time we all were playing for our teams to qualify for the next round. Looking back, I think that was a memorable wicket." 

Later Nimbalkar dismissed Gavaskar many times in inter-state championships.

His formative years were spent in the PYC Hindu Gymkhana in Pune. He studied at the Bhave School. In his school days, he attended the cricket training sessions of the grand old man of Indian cricket DB Deodhar and the first captain of the Indian cricket team CK Naidu.

Under his captaincy at the state level, Nimbalkar won Inter-University Championship, Inter-State Championship and lead Maharashtra in Cooch Behar Trophy. With his growing career graph, Nimbalkar secured his place in the Ranji Trophy squad of Maharashtra.

When all went smoothly, his knee injury came at a time when Nimbalkar was knocking at the door of India’s International Cricket Team. In 1969-70, Nimbalkar was struggling with knee injuries. 

"At that time, there were no physio, trainers or surgery. I completely ignored the injury and went on playing which resulted in recurring injuries," he said.

Between 1969 and 1970, Nimbalkar suffered three major knee injuries which later became a major hurdle for his cricketing career. Nimbalkar had hit an 82-run knock in his last match in the Cooch Behar Trophy.

It was the same year when the doors of international cricket opened for Gavaskar. 

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, "Though Nimbalkar missed a century in his last cricket match, he will complete it on his life pitch. We can't avoid certain incidences like injuries but truly India lost a good player."

Later, Nimbalkar focused on his studies. He did his MSc in physics as well as in chemistry from Garware College and Fergusson College in Pune followed by post-graduation in law. 

He worked as a lecturer at Symbiosis Law College and the prestigious ILS Law College in Pune.

He shifted to Phaltan and became the chairman of Phaltan Education Society. However, he continued teaching at the Law College at Phaltan. He joined politics in 1991 and became the chairman of the municipal council. He contested the assembly election and became an independent MLA in 1995.

In 1999, when Sharad Pawar started his own Nationalist Congress Party, Nimbalkar joined it and became the minister of state for revenue. In 2004, he became a cabinet minister in charge of Krishna Valley Development Corporation. 

After his constituency Phaltan became a reserved constituency, he was elected to the Upper House.

On Thursday, the Maharashtra assembly bid farewell to 10 members including Nimbalkar. When asked about his early cricket days Nimbalkar said, "If I had not ventured into politics and there were no reoccurring injuries, I would have represented India at the International level."