Chandu Borde
Born 7 February 1934 · Maharashtra
Scored over 2,000 Test runs for India and served twice as chairman of selectors.
🔔 Add birthday reminderChandrakant Gulabrao "Chandu" Borde, is an Indian former cricketer who played for India between 1958 and 1970. Following his retirement, he became a cricket administrator and twice served as India's chairman of selectors.
✨ A detail that surprised us
Chandu Borde learned cricket without a formal coach, honing his skills solely by observation and relentless practice at the YMCA in Pune.
1. 🌟 In December 1954, Chandu Borde made his first-class debut for Baroda against Gujarat in Ahmedabad but was bowled for a duck in the semi-final against Holkar, a humble start to his cricketing career.
2. After a shaky start in his Test debut series against the West Indies in 1958, Borde bounced back by scoring a maiden century (109) and a 96 in the final Test at Chennai, marking his arrival on the international stage.
3. In 1960, during the Fourth Test against Pakistan in Madras, Borde scored his highest Test score of 177 not out, forging a 177-run partnership with Polly Umrigar, showcasing his all-round batting and bowling skills.
4. 🎯 Borde's critical role in India's first-ever Test victory over England in 1961 at Eden Gardens included two half-centuries and three wickets, helping India break a long-standing winless streak against England at home.
5. Despite a tough 5–0 whitewash loss to the West Indies in 1961/62, Borde's resilience was evident in the following series with strong performances against England and Australia, scoring 383 runs at an average of 42.55.
6. 🏏 In 1964, Borde was the top Indian batsman in the historic first overseas Test series win in New Zealand, scoring 242 runs at 48.40, including two fifties, helping India secure a landmark victory.
7. After retiring from playing in 1973, Borde twice served as India’s chairman of selectors (1984-86 and 1999-2002) and managed the Indian team during the 1989 Pakistan tour, which saw the Test debut of Sachin Tendulkar.
8. ❓ How did Chandu Borde’s uncoached, self-taught cricketing journey from fetching balls at Pune’s YMCA evolve to shaping Indian cricket both on and off the field over two decades?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Padma Shri
🔍 One thing most people don't know
Chandu Borde was one of the few Indian cricketers who combined a double century in first-class cricket with an eight-wicket haul in bowling, a rare all-round achievement.
🖼️ Through the Years
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📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
Forgotten Gems of Indian Cricket - Chandu Borde
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Chandu Borde’s dual role as a player and later as chairman of selectors influenced the shaping of Indian cricket in the 1960s through the 2000s, including the discovery of Sachin Tendulkar. His leadership in domestic cricket, especially with Maharashtra, and his administrative roles helped stabilize and professionalize team selection processes, impacting India’s cricketing strategies and talent nurturing.
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