JamesTex at 21:41, 6 February 2026

2026-02-06T21:41:37Z

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{{short description|Former Indian cricketer and cricket administrator}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Dilip Vengsarkar
| image = DilipVengsarkar.jpg
| caption = Vengsarkar in 2011
| country = India
| fullname = Dilip Balwant Vengsarkar
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|4|6|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Rajapur, Maharashtra|Rajapur]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[medium pace bowling|medium]]
| international = true
| internationalspan = 1976–1992
| testdebutdate = 24 January
| testdebutyear = 1976
| testdebutagainst = New Zealand
| testcap = 139
| lasttestdate = 5 February
| lasttestyear = 1992
| lasttestagainst = Australia
| odidebutdate = 21 February
| odidebutyear = 1976
| odidebutagainst = New Zealand
| odicap = 19
| lastodidate = 14 November
| lastodiyear = 1991
| lastodiagainst = South Africa
| club1 = [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|1975/76–1991/92}}
| club2 = [[Staffordshire County Cricket Club|Staffordshire]]
| year2 = 1985
| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 116
| runs1 = 6,868
| bat avg1 = 42.13
| 100s/50s1 = 17/35
| top score1 = 166
| deliveries1 = 47
| wickets1 = 0
| bowl avg1 = –
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = –
| catches/stumpings1 = 78/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 129
| runs2 = 3,508
| bat avg2 = 34.73
| 100s/50s2 = 1/23
| top score2 = 105
| deliveries2 = 6
| wickets2 = 0
| bowl avg2 = –
| fivefor2 = –
| tenfor2 = –
| best bowling2 = –
| catches/stumpings2 = 37/–
| column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches3 = 260
| runs3 = 17,868
| bat avg3 = 52.86
| 100s/50s3 = 55/87
| top score3 = 284
| deliveries3 = 199
| wickets3 = 1
| bowl avg3 = 126.00
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 1/31
| catches/stumpings3 = 179/–
| column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches4 = 174
| runs4 = 4,835
| bat avg4 = 35.29
| 100s/50s4 = 1/35
| top score4 = 105
| deliveries4 = 12
| wickets4 = 0
| bowl avg4 = –
| fivefor4 = –
| tenfor4 = –
| best bowling4 = –
| catches/stumpings4 = 51/–
| date = 7 February
| year = 2010
| source = http://content.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/35654.html ESPNcricinfo
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Cricket World Cup|ICC Cricket World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1983 Cricket World Cup|1983 England and Wales]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asia Cup|ACC Asia Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1984 Asia Cup|1984 United Arab Emirates]]|}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1988 Asia Cup|1988 Bangladesh]]|}}
}}
'''Dilip Balwant Vengsarkar''' {{audio|Dilip_Vengsarkar.ogg|pronunciation}} (born 6 April 1956) is a former Indian [[cricket]]er and a cricket administrator. He was considered to have a very good [[Drive (cricket)|drive]]. Along with [[Sunil Gavaskar]] and [[Gundappa Viswanath]], he was a key player in the Indian batting line up in the late 70s and early 80s. He was a member of the Indian team that won the [[1983 Cricket World Cup]]. Vengsarkar also led the national side to [[1988 Asia Cup]] victory. He was also a part of the Indian squad which won the 1985 [[World Championship of Cricket]]. He went on to play until 1992.

At the pinnacle of his career, Vengsarkar was rated as the best batsman in the Coopers and Lybrand rating (a predecessor of the PWC ratings) and he held the number one slot for 21 months until 2 March 1989.<ref>{{Citation|title=Miandad replaces Vengsarkar|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=1989-03-03|access-date=2016-10-03|page=16|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19910222&printsec=frontpage}}</ref> In 2014, he received the [[C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award]], the highest honour conferred by [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]] on a former player.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=29 September 2017 |title=Dilip Vengsarkar 'honoured' to receive CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-dilip-vengsarkar-honoured-to-receive-ck-nayudu-lifetime-achievement-award-2036335 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=[[DNA India]] |language=en |quote="I feel honoured that I have been chosen for the C K Nayudu award which I guess, is the highest award for cricket in India. I am grateful to the BCCI," Vengsarkar told PTI.}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Dilip_Vengsarkar_Graph.png|thumb|Vengsarkar's career batting performance]]

Vengsarkar made his international cricket debut against New Zealand at [[Auckland]] in 1975–76 as an opening batsman. India won this Test convincingly, but he did not have much success. Later on he usually batted in the No.3 or No.4 position.

He played a memorable inning in 1979 against Asif Iqbal's Pakistan team in the 2nd Test at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. Requiring 390 to win on the final day, he led India's chase getting the team very close to a victory. India ended up with 364 for 6, just 26 runs short of what would have been a remarkable win. With [[Yashpal Sharma (cricketer)|Yashpal Sharma]], [[Kapil Dev]] and [[Roger Binny]] back to the pavilion after the Tea break, Vengsarkar saw himself running out of partners and decided to play the last few overs for a draw. He remained unbeaten on 146.

During the 1978–79 Test Series in India against the West Indies, he was involved in a partnership of over 300 runs with [[Sunil Gavaskar]] at Calcutta, with both batsman scoring centuries.

He was a member of the [[1983 cricket World Cup|1983 World Champion's team]], though, on 15 June in a match against the West Indies, he was forced to miss the latter part of the tournament after being struck on the face by a bouncer from Malcolm Marshall, and resulted in seven stitches.<ref>{{cite web |last= Nayar |first= K. R. |title=It was Kapil’s Cup – Vengsarkar |url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/it-was-kapils-cup---vengsarkar-1.137487
|website=Gulf News |date=17 October 2008 |access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref>
Post 1983, he had a productive run of scores between 1985 and 1987, where he scored centuries against [[Pakistan]], Australia, England, [[West Indies]] and [[Sri Lanka]], many of them in successive games.

While the West Indies pacemen dominated the cricket world, Dilip Vengsarkar was one of the few batsmen who was successful against them, and scored 6 centuries against the likes of [[Malcolm Marshall]], [[Michael Holding]] and [[Andy Roberts (cricketer)|Andy Roberts]].

He is currently team mentor and coach for Telugu Warrior team in the Celebrity Cricket League Season 5.<ref>{{cite web|title=CCL 2016 winner: Telugu Warriors beat Karnataka Bulldozers to win Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) 2016 Final|url=http://www.india.com/sports/celebrity-cricket-league-ccl-2016-final-live-score-updates-telugu-warriors-vs-karnataka-bulldozers-946739/}}</ref>

He also scored a century at [[Lord's]] in 1986, thus scoring consecutive [[Test cricket|Test match]] centuries at Lord's in three matches.

==Captaincy==

Vengsarkar took over the captaincy from [[Kapil Dev]] after the [[1987 Cricket World Cup]], despite criticism that he missed the semi-final match due to a stomach disorder resulting from a seafood allergy. Although he started with two centuries in his first series as captain, his captaincy period was turbulent and he lost the job following a disastrous tour of the West Indies in early 1989 and a stand-off with the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]].

==Awards==
* Vengsarkar was awarded the [[Arjuna Award]] for his on-field performances in 1981
* For his contribution to the Indian cricket the [[Government of India]] decorated him with the [[Padma Shri]] honour in 1987.
* [[Wisden Cricketers of the Year]] in 1987<ref>{{cite web| access-date=2007-04-02| publisher=[[Wisden Almanack]] | title=Dilip Vengasarkar| url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154449.html}}</ref>
* Vengsarkar was awarded the [[C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award|C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award]] by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).<ref>[http://www.affairscloud.com/ck-naidu-lifetime-achievement-award-for-dilip-vengsarkar/ "CK Naidu lifetime achievement award for Dilip Vengsarkar "], "Affairscloud", 21 November 2014.</ref>

==Administrator==
[[File:The_Duke_and_Duchess_of_Cambridge_met_cricket_legends_Sachin_Tendulkar_and_Dilip_Vengsarkar_at_the_Oval_Maidan_in_Mumbai_(26337321926).jpg|thumb|Vengsarkar with [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge]], [[Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge]] and [[Sachin Tendulkar]] at the [[Oval Maidan]] in [[Mumbai]]]]

After retiring, Vengsarkar started the Elf-Vengsarkar Academy in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2007-03-14 |publisher=ELF.com |title=Vengasarkar as Match-Referee |url=http://www.elf.co.in/lub/lubin.nsf/VS_OPM/FA1ECEC136A21535C1256F38004DF727?OpenDocument&LG=EN& |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070111150440/http://www.elf.co.in/lub/lubin.nsf/VS_OPM/FA1ECEC136A21535C1256F38004DF727?OpenDocument&LG=EN& |archive-date=11 January 2007 }}</ref> He became the vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association in 2003.<ref>{{cite web| access-date = 2007-03-14| work = Rediff.com| title=Vengasarkar wins MCA Elections| url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2003/apr/30mca.htm}}</ref> Although, he was the front runner for the post of the [[Indian national cricket selectors|Chairman, Selection Committee]],{{when|date=December 2021}} Dilip opted out because of his policy against zonal representation.{{clarify|date=December 2021}}<ref>{{cite web| date=19 September 1996 | access-date = 2007-04-02| work = Rediff.com| title=Vengasarkar outs out of selection committee| url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/72795.html}}</ref> He was appointed the Chairman of the [[Talent Resource Development Wing]] when it was created in 2002 to develop cricket talent within the country.<ref>{{Cite news| access-date = 2007-03-14| title=TRDW – The Way to go| url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/30/stories/2006053004941900.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001063817/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/30/stories/2006053004941900.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=1 October 2007| location=Chennai, India| work = [[The Hindu]]| date=30 May 2006}}</ref>
Presently he is Chief Adviser of the Cricket Association of Telangana (CAT).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cricketassociationoftelangana.com/cricketassociationoftelangana-CAT/AboutUs |title=About Cricket Association of Telangana |publisher=Cricket Association of Telagan |access-date=10 October 2017}}</ref>

In March 2006, the BCCI proposed Vengsarkar as a match referee,<ref>{{cite web| access-date = 2007-03-14| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| title=Vengasarkar as Match-Referee| url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/242245.html}}</ref> but the proposal did not move forward as Vengsarkar accepted the job as chairman of selectors of the BCCI later in the year.<ref>{{cite web| access-date = 2007-03-14| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| title=2006/08 Selection Committee Announcement| url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/260675.html}}</ref>

He runs three cricket academies, two in Mumbai and one in Pune. These academies give training free of charge to players selected on their skill level.

==In popular culture==
A Bollywood film ''[[83 (film)|83]]'' released in 2021 about the events around India's first World Cup win, at Lords in 1983, features [[Adinath Kothare]] as Vengsarkar.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ranveer Singh starrer '83: Marathi actor Adinath Kothare to play ace batsman Dilip Vengsarkar|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-ranveer-singh-starrer-83-marathi-actor-adinath-kothare-to-play-ace-batsman-dilip-vengsarkar-2734662|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Daily News and Analysis|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title='83': Ranveer Singh introduces Adinath Kothare as Dilip Vengsarkar|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/83-ranveer-singh-introduces-adinath-kothare-as-dilip-vengsarkar-120012100477_1.html|access-date=2021-03-21}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/content/179528/wonderful-vengsarkar.html Wonderful Vengsarkar]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
before=[[Kapil Dev]] |
title=[[Indian National Test Cricket Captains|Indian National Test Cricket Captain]] |
years=1987/88 |
after=[[Ravi Shastri]] |
}}
{{succession box |
before=[[Ravi Shastri]] |
title=[[Indian National Test Cricket Captains|Indian National Test Cricket Captain]] |
years=1987/88–1989/90 |
after=[[Krishnamachari Srikkanth]] |
}}
{{s-end}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
before=[[Kiran More]] |
title=[[Indian national cricket selectors#Selection committee|Chairman, Selection Committee]] |
years=October 2006 – September 2008 |
after=[[Krishnamachari Srikkanth]] |
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Indian Test Cricket Captains}}
{{India ODI Cricket Captains}}
{{Indians with 100 or more Test caps}}
{{Navboxes
|title= India squads
|bg=mediumblue
|fg=orange
|bordercolor=orange
|list1=
{{India Squad 1979 Cricket World Cup}}
{{India Squad 1983 Cricket World Cup}}
{{India Squad 1984 Asia Cup}}
{{India Squad 1987 Cricket World Cup}}
{{India Squad 1988 Asia Cup}}
}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Sports}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vengsarkar, Dilip}}
[[Category:India Test cricketers]]
[[Category:India One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:India Test cricket captains]]
[[Category:Mumbai cricketers]]
[[Category:West Zone cricketers]]
[[Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1979 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1983 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1987 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Indian cricket administrators]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Ratnagiri district]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:India national cricket team selectors]]
[[Category:Staffordshire cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian expatriate cricketers in England]]
[[Category:Indian Universities cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian cricket coaches]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Mumbai]]

Dilip Vengsarkar - Revision history

JamesTex at 21:41, 6 February 2026