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Vishwanath recalled the Kingston Test of 1976 when Gaekwad was hit on the ear by a Michael Holding delivery and had to retire hurt on 81. “Nobody thought he would come back and play Test cricket after that injury. He was gutsy. He was a good opening batter with sound technique,” said the 75-year-old batting great.

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Meanwhile, former Bengal and East Zone player Sambaran Banerjee, who was in the same national selection committee as Gaekwad in 1995-96, remarked: “Anshu was a very sharp man with a good analytical mind. We all loved him. I’m gutted on hearing the news of his death and I can’t help recalling our days as fellow selectors and opponents in domestic cricket. I just can’t bring myself to believe that Anshu is no longer with us.”