Chandu Patankar: For his pluck, he needed some luck

Cricket selections are based oncombination. Six batsmen and four bowlers or five batsmen and five bowlers?Depending on what the captain and the team management finally decide, onebatsman or bowler gets a chance or misses out. What about the wicket-keeperthough? There is only one in a team and if he is doing well enough, others don'teven stand a chance.A wicketkeeper who suffered the most was England's Bob Taylor, who made a Test debut at 30, but got to play more Tests only after Alan Knott joined World Series Cricket in 1977. Similarly, many Indian 'keepers from the 50s to 80s suffered. Dr. Chandu Patankar, a fine wicket-keeper batsman, played just a solitary Test for India even after having led the Indian Universities against the Silver Jubilee overseas team. He is also perhaps the only Indian Test cricketer to have completed a PhD.Patankar moved from Poona to Bombay in the quest ofgetting a degree in medicine to fulfill the wish of his father, who also was amedical practitioner. As an accomplished keeper-batsman, Patankar led Ruia College. Perhaps that made another Ruia wicket-keeper Naren Tamhane move to Siddharth College. It never affected their friendship though.Vasu Paranjape, who has known Patankar for over six decadessays, "If Tamhane was efficient behind the wickets, Patankar was graceful. Athorough gentleman, he did everything without fuss."In 1961,Patankar played for BEST in the Times Shield final that went on for seven days.Alongwith NM Dandekar, he helped BEST beat Kohinoor Mills to win the title.When Vijay Manjrekar asked a young Paddy Shivalkar to join Shivaji Park Gymkhana (SPG), Patankar was the wicket-keeper of the team. Shivalkar recounts, "In the first innings, I didn't get to bowl but after eight wickets fell in the second innings, the captain gave me the ball. The first ball took the shoulder of the bat, but Patankar anticipated and held a brilliant catch. I got a wicket off the second ball too. Patankar then told me, 'Not to worry. I'm behind the stumps. Look at me and bowl.'"Bapu Nadkarni, acontemporary of Patankar, says, "He was a very good cricketer, but when youcompete for one spot with a couple of others, someone has to suffer. Before thePakistan tour, Madhav Mantri went for the trials and Chandu lost the chance.Mantri and Tamhane went on the tour. Chandu too deserved to be on the tour."Known for his brilliant leg side gathering, Patankar had to competewith Nana Joshi and Naren Tamhane for a spot. His philosophy was simple though;enjoy the game and not worry about the future. Though many are bitter abouttheir past, Patankar, now 81, despite, being a victim of whimsical selection andbad luck, isn't.