Bhagwat Chandrasekhar: The Man Who Turned His Disability Into Weapon And went on to become an Indian cricket legend

A polio-wracked right wrist was transformed into a weapon that terrified batters all over the world. Bhagwat Subramanya Chandrasekhar (informally Chandra) was a rare treasure who was India’s most prolific match-winner abroad for a long time. The leg-spinner was part of the Indian spin four that dominated spin bowling in the 1960s and 1970s, along with Prasanna, Bishen Singh Bedi, and Venkataraghavan.

Biography

Full Name – Bhagwat Subramanya Chandrasekhar
Date of Birth – May 17, 1945
Nationality – Indian
Role – Leg break Bowler, Right-handed Batsman
Family – Sandhya Chandrasekhar (Spouse)

Subramanya Chandrasekhar Bhagwat is a retired Indian cricketer. He was born in Mysore at the time when India was still a British colony.

He was a successful leg-spinner who was selected a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1972.

He was diagnosed with Polio as a child, which damaged his right arm. Yet it didn’t stop him from winning the Wisden Trophy for “Best Bowling Performance of the Century” for India in 1971, when he took six wickets and gave only 38 runs against England at The Oval.

Background

He had Polio when he was six years old, leaving his right arm shrivelled. Thankfully, he recovered and began playing cricket at the age of ten, with Australian leg-spinner Richie Benaud serving as an inspiration.

He played first-class cricket from the 1963/64 season until 1979/80, and List-A cricket for two years beginning in 1975/76.

He moved to Bangalore and got the opportunity to play for City Cricketers. When playing with the Leather ball, he had a better knowledge of the game. When he first joined the club, he tried a variety of bowling methods before settling on leg spin.

Debut

He was selected for England’s tour of India but missed the first Test at Chennai before making his debut in the second Test at Mumbai on January 21, 1964. He bowled 40 overs in his maiden international innings, scalping four wickets and getting a wicket in the second innings.

He made his One-Day International (ODI) debut on 22nd February 1976 during India’s tour of New Zealand, finishing with figures of 3/37. Despite his best efforts, the squad crumbled during batting, resulting in the match being forfeited. Regrettably, it turned out to be his final game in the Blue jersey.

Rise to Glory

He was instrumental in setting up the match for India in their first ever win in England he picked up six wickets for 38 runs at The Oval in 1971.

His consistent performance in 1971 led to him being named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1972. He was fifth Indian to win the award.

Chandrasekhar teaming up with along Prasanna took 19 wickets in a Test against New Zealand in 1976 setting up the victory.

In 1978, he was instrumental in India’s first win in Australia, taking 12 for 104 at Melbourne.

He has the dubious distinction of being one of just two players in Test cricket history to have scored less runs (167) than wickets (242) taken. The other is New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin.

Retirement

He played his final limited overs match for India on February 22, 1976, which also happened to be his first match.

He last appeared in the first Test of India’s tour of England on July 12, 1979, at Birmingham, when he gave 113 runs without taking a wicket in the first innings. This happened to be his final innings with the ball, as India struggled with the bat and lost by an innings. Chandrasekhar did not score but was undefeated in both innings.

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