India's oldest Test cricketer Dattajirao Gaekwad passes away
New Delhi, Feb 13: India's oldest Test cricketer and former captain Dattajirao Gaekwad died on Tuesday due to age-related ailments.
Gaekwad, who was the father of former India opener and national coach Aunshuman Gaekwad, was 95.
He breathed his last early this morning after battling for life in the ICU of a Baroda hospital for the past 12 days, a source in the family told PTI.
He played 11 Tests for India between 1952 and 1961, captaining the national team in 1959 when it toured England.
The right-hander made his debut against England at Leeds in 1952 and his final international game was against Pakistan in Chennai in 1961.
In the Ranji Trophy, Gaekwad represented Baroda from 1947 to 1961. He scored 3139 runs at an average of 47.56, including 14 hundreds.
His highest was a 249 not out against Maharashtra in the 1959-60 season.
He became India's oldest living Test cricketer in 2016 after the death of former batter Deepak Shodhan at the age of 87 in Ahmedabad.
The BCCI expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer. He played in 11 Tests and led the team during India’s Tour of England in 1959. Under his captaincy, Baroda also won the Ranji Trophy in the… pic.twitter.com/HSUArGrjDF
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 13, 2024
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Looking forward to meet PM Netanyahu, consolidate enduring bonds: PM Modi ahead of Israel visit
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism, and he is looking forward to his discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The prime minister is due to leave for Israel on on Wednesday on a two-day visit.
Before embarking, Modi said he was confident that his visit would further consolidate the "enduring bonds" between India and Israel, set new goals for the strategic partnership, and advance the countries' shared vision for a resilient, innovative, and prosperous future.
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Modi said the visit comes at the invitation of his "dear friend Prime Minister Netanyahu."
"I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management... defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties," he said in his departure statement.
The prime minister said the two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
During the visit, Modi will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
"I will also have the honour of becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, an occasion that would be a tribute to the strong parliamentary and democratic ties that bind our two nations," he said.
Modi said he is looking forward to interacting with the members of the Indian diaspora who have long been nurturing the India-Israel friendship.
