Forward short leg loses its best man: Solkar, 57, dead

He was the one who introduced us to diving catches. The famous catch of Alan Knott’s at the Oval still rates as one of the all time greats. We, as kids, used to practice only high catches. It was only after we saw Solkar that we started going to the sandpits in our locality and practice ones that called for dives.

The 1971 tour to West Indies is often remembered as Gavaskar’s series but Solkar was involved in two crucial partnerships with Dilip Sardesai in the first (137 at 5/75) and fourth (186 at 6/70) Tests which saved both the games. When Gavaskar failed in the series, Solkar and Sardesai saved the games. That was the time we would collect Solkar’s newspaper cuttings. We just loved him.

I remember, in 1974, when India were bowled out for 42 at the Lord’s, he had hooked Geoff Arnold for a six, which was a shot as good as any. Besides being one of the best short-legs and a gutsy batsman, Solkar was a very funny character. Gavaskar used to tell me that the whole team used to fall off laughing at his antics. He would stand up and talk back in English, to men of the stature of Sir Garfield Sobers, while he did not know a word of what he spoke.

From 1971 onwards, he used to get Geoffrey Boycott out fairly regularly. All that added to the folklore.

It is sad that we have not been able to see the greatest of Solkar’s catches. We have only read about them. The fact that great short-leg fielding has faded as a concept—David Boon was the last great fielder at the position—makes it even tougher to compare him with today’s fielders. All the great fielders today field at either point or in the slips.

Statistically, few rank above Solkar in the catches per match count. His catch-per-Test ratio was almost two (53 in 27). Mark Waugh’s, to put things in perspective, was 1.41.

Solkar’s greatest contribution to Indian cricket will be the edge he provided the spinners with, and the wickets that never would have been, but for his brilliance.

(As told to Sidharth Monga)