Veteran left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi, famously remembered for his match-winning five-wicket haul against Australia at Melbourne in 1981, died of cardiac arrest in London on Monday. He was 77, and is survived by his wife, daughter and son Nayan, who has also played first- class cricket.

Doshi came on the scene after legendary India spinner Bishan Singh Bedi’s retirement in 1979. He represented India in 33 Test matches from 1979 to 1983 and took 114 wickets, including six five-wicket hauls. It took him just 28 Tests to reach the milestone of 100 wickets.

Doshi, who was also much in demand in the English county circuit, where he represented Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, had bowled with a fractured toe in the 1981 Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with lethal accuracy to win the match for India, along with Karsan Ghavri and Kapil Dev.

He also had an illustrious first-class career with 898 wickets, including 43 five-fors. Having played for Bengal and Saurashtra in the Indian domestic circuit, Doshi was Bengal’s trump card in the Ranji Trophy for several years.

While many consider Bedi to be India’s greatest left-arm spinner, Doshi was particularly revered for his accuracy and deft use of flight. Australian, English and West Indies batsmen used to find it tough to handle his arm balls. He was a close friend of Sunil Gavaskar. Veteran cricketers recall how Doshi had first introduced Gavaskar to his would-be wife, Marshaniel. Doshi had shifted to London after retirement and became a successful businessman there.

Cricket fraternity pays tributes

The Indian cricket fraternity, on Tuesday, paid glowing tributes to one of India’s greatest left-arm spinners, Dilip Doshi, known in cricketing circles as a “gentleman to the core”.

Former India captain Anil Kumble was among the first ones to express his condolences. “Heartbreaking to hear about Dilip bhai’s passing. May God give strength to his family and friends to bear this loss. Nayan, thinking of you buddy,” Kumble wrote on X.

Recalling his first meeting with the “warm-hearted” Doshi during a UK tour in 1990, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar posted on X, “I met Dilip bhai for the first time in the UK in 1990, and he bowled to me in the nets on that tour. He was really fond of me, and I reciprocated his feelings. A warm-hearted soul like Dilip bhai will be deeply missed. I will miss those cricketing conversations which we invariably had. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti.”

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who had played with Doshi in his younger days, described him as “always immaculate and a fine, fine bowler.”

Mourning his friend’s loss, former wicketkeeper-batsman Farokh Engineer said, “I couldn’t believe it when I first heard. He was a dear friend. When he first came to England, he stayed with me for a while. Extremely sad news. Our sincerest condolences to his wife and family. RIP my dear friend.”

The BCCI also joined in paying homage to the celebrated spinner. “It is with deep sadness that we learn of the passing of Dilip Doshi. He was a true artist of spin bowling, a gentleman both on and off the field, and a dedicated servant of Indian cricket,” BCCI president Roger Binny said.