Mumbai: 96-year-old CD Gopinath passed away in Chennai on Thursday. Hailing from Chennai (formerly Madras), Chingalpat Doraikanu (CD) Gopinath, who played eight Tests between 1951–60, was previously India’s oldest cricketer. Gopinath was the last survivor of India’s first Test win against England in Madras in 1952.Following his death, former India, Mumbai, and Maharashtra wicket-keeper batsman Chandu Patankar, aged 95 years and 136 days, is now the oldest Indian Test cricketer.
Patankar played one Test for India against New Zealand in 1955. “Yes, today someone gave me the sad news of Gopinath’s demise. A friend informed me that I am now the oldest Indian Test cricketer,” Patankar told TOI. Asked how he managed to sustain himself in the 90s, Patankar said, “It’s God’s grace. I don’t put in any extra effort.” After his retirement, Patankar served as the secretary of the Cricket Club of India for several years. A wicketkeeper and lower-order batsman in his time, Patankar played one Test, the New Year’s Test, against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in December 1955. In this match he scored 13 and 1 unbeaten runs. He also took three catches and a stumping in the first innings. However, he dropped the hard skier and was dropped from the playing eleven for the fifth Test played at the Madras Corporation Stadium.A native of Parel, Patankar was born in Penam, Raigad district of Maharashtra. He studied at Bombay University and received his M.Sc. He played first-class cricket for Bombay from 1950 to 1966, then moved to Maharashtra in his final season (1966–67). Patankar replaced his Bombay wicket-keeping partner Narine Tamhane, who was injured, for the fourth game of Harry Q’s five-match Test series against New Zealand in 1955–56, but lost his place when Tamhane replaced him for the final game of the series. Patankar thus joins the list of 51 cricketers, six of them wicketkeepers, who have played just one Test for India.Patankar is known as a “good man” by those close to him. In October 2022, Patankar planned to visit the Wankhede Stadium premises and vote in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) elections. He also attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Wankhede Stadium in January 2025.
