End of an era: Last member of India’s first Test win, CD Gopinath, dies at 96

CHENNAI: “The crowd applauded us for 15 minutes at a stretch after the Test match was over. I still remember that moment,” CD Gopinath told TOI a few years ago, recalling India’s historic first Test win at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Madras (then). It was 1952, India had beaten England in the fifth Test by an innings and eight runs. Gopinath had scored a breezy 35, to be one among that historic game’s many heroes — Vinoo Mankad (12 wickets), Polly Umrigar (130) and Pankay Roy (111).

At 96, the last living member of that team, he passed away in his sleep here on Thursday.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
“Gopi was a lovely batsman to watch, a very natural player, and a shrewd captain. He also kept wickets from time to time. But what always stood out was his geniality,” V Ramnarayan, former Hyderabad off-spinner and a well-known cricket historian, who co-wrote Gopinath’s autobiography, ‘Beyond Cricket — A Life In Many Worlds’, told TOI.

Gopinath played in eight Test matches, between 1951-60. But it wasn’t without its share of controversies. “In Gopi’s own words, during the 1952 Test series in England, he was insulted by captain Vijay Hazare. He felt he was being targeted because he was a South Indian and chose not to go for the next West Indies series,” Ramnarayan said.

Gopinath’s contribution to Tamil Nadu cricket was immense as well. He was part of the Madras team that won its first Ranji Trophy title in 1954-55. “In the final, against a powerful Holkar side which had Mushtaq Ali, he scored 133 in the first innings and had to take over the captaincy towards the business end of the game,” Ramnarayan added.

Along with cricket, Gopinath had other interests, game hunting being one of those. In 1955-56, Gopi took the visiting New Zealand team for a hunting expedition. “While returning, they got late and returned only on the morning of the match against South Zone. But Gopi went on to score a 175 in that game,” the historian added.

Gopinath played his last Test in 1960 at Eden Gardens and didn’t extend his first-class career for long either. In 1962, aged 32, he retired from cricket chiefly because he was employed at a responsible position with a British firm, Gordon Woodroffe. “He had a life beyond cricket, he was a terrific tennis player, his wife Comala being his mixed doubles partner. They won quite a few tournaments in those days,” Ramnarayan said.

Gopinath had a sharp mind, loved to play bridge, used to keep track of the current Indian team, and was never shy of a conversation around cricket.

“For us, it was sheer passion. We used to get only Rs 250 per Test as ‘smoke money’ and always travelled by train. We didn’t stay in hotels. Even foreign players used to share accommodation as ‘house guest’. But I have no regrets,” ‘Gopi’ had told TOI, sometime back, the smile never leaving his face.

Stay updated with the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL Schedule, check the IPL Points Table, and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.