Subhash Gupte, born on this day, 1929, was arguably the greatest spinner India has ever produced.
I have obviously never seen him bowl, but every eyewitness has rated him as extraordinary.
And yet, BCCI treated him too shabbily – but more of that later.
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I have obviously never seen him bowl, but every eyewitness has rated him as extraordinary.
And yet, BCCI treated him too shabbily – but more of that later.
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Even if one looks at basic data, Gupte's greatness becomes obvious.
Gupte took 12 five-wicket hauls in 36 Tests (one in three) and 61 innings (one in five).
Remember, he did this despite having to share wickets with Mankad and Ghulam.
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Gupte took 12 five-wicket hauls in 36 Tests (one in three) and 61 innings (one in five).
Remember, he did this despite having to share wickets with Mankad and Ghulam.
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Gupte's 65 overseas wickets came at 28.52.
Put a 50-wicket cut-off, and no Indian spinner has a better average.
In fact, nobody else averages less than 31.
One must remember that unlike some other world-class leg-spinners, Gupte seldom not have an all-time great batsman.
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Put a 50-wicket cut-off, and no Indian spinner has a better average.
In fact, nobody else averages less than 31.
One must remember that unlike some other world-class leg-spinners, Gupte seldom not have an all-time great batsman.
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So he seldom got to bowl with a cushion of 500 runs. He had to contain and take wickets.
Gupte never enjoyed the benefit of a cohort of world-class close-in catchers either.
Garry Sobers rated Gupte ahead of Shane Warne.
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Gupte never enjoyed the benefit of a cohort of world-class close-in catchers either.
Garry Sobers rated Gupte ahead of Shane Warne.
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Gupte had both the leg-break and the top-spin, and was famously accurate. But it was his two googlies that impressed Sobers.
But Sobers played against Gupte only once, in the 1958-59 series in India.
Despite that 9/102, this was Gupte's worst series by some distance.
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But Sobers played against Gupte only once, in the 1958-59 series in India.
Despite that 9/102, this was Gupte's worst series by some distance.
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His 22 wickets came at 42.13.
After 20 Tests, Gupte's average had stood at 25.03 – which was when that series began.
What would Sobers have said had he seen Gupte in his prime?
I mentioned his 9/102 above.
That happened at Kanpur in 1958-59.
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After 20 Tests, Gupte's average had stood at 25.03 – which was when that series began.
What would Sobers have said had he seen Gupte in his prime?
I mentioned his 9/102 above.
That happened at Kanpur in 1958-59.
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He might have got all ten, had Naren Tamhane not dropped Lance Gibbs, the only man who survived Gupte.
This was unfortunate, for 18 of Tamhane's 51 dismissals came off Gupte. He read Gupte really well.
Jim Laker called Gupte the best leg-spinner he had seen.
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This was unfortunate, for 18 of Tamhane's 51 dismissals came off Gupte. He read Gupte really well.
Jim Laker called Gupte the best leg-spinner he had seen.
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Laker had probably seen him during his many seasons at the Lancashire League.
He was a legend of sorts there, taking 449 wickets at 9.47.
For Rishton against Accrington in 1956, he took two hat-tricks *in the same innings*.
Now... how did India treat the man?
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He was a legend of sorts there, taking 449 wickets at 9.47.
For Rishton against Accrington in 1956, he took two hat-tricks *in the same innings*.
Now... how did India treat the man?
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The story has been told many times with slight variations.
The gist, however, is the same.
With four wickets in three overs against England, Gupte (5/90) had shown glimpses of return to form in the Kanpur Test of 1961-62.
He was retained for the Delhi Test.
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The gist, however, is the same.
With four wickets in three overs against England, Gupte (5/90) had shown glimpses of return to form in the Kanpur Test of 1961-62.
He was retained for the Delhi Test.
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Gupte and Kripal were then dropped for the Calcutta Test.
This was surprising. The pitch was expected to turn (the Indian spinners eventually got 14 wickets).
Why was Gupte dropped?
Disciplinary grounds, explained captain Nari Contractor ahead of the Test.
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This was surprising. The pitch was expected to turn (the Indian spinners eventually got 14 wickets).
Why was Gupte dropped?
Disciplinary grounds, explained captain Nari Contractor ahead of the Test.
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The Indians had been put up at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi.
Kripal and Gupte were sharing a room.
After the Test, Gupte helped Kripal pack, and Kripal left for Madras.
So far, so good.
Then Contractor summoned Gupte.
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Kripal and Gupte were sharing a room.
After the Test, Gupte helped Kripal pack, and Kripal left for Madras.
So far, so good.
Then Contractor summoned Gupte.
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The hotel receptionist had accused a team member of asking her out for a drink.
The call had been traced to Gupte and Kripal's room.
This was a big blow, especially since Gupte was married.
Desperate to get in touch with Kripal, Gupte rushed to the airport with Desai.
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The call had been traced to Gupte and Kripal's room.
This was a big blow, especially since Gupte was married.
Desperate to get in touch with Kripal, Gupte rushed to the airport with Desai.
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Kripal confessed.
And yet, both Gupte and Kripal were dropped.
The Board Secretary met Gupte just ahead of India's tour of West Indies that followed.
- Did you try and stop Kripal making the call?
- He is a big man. How can I stop him?
Gupte was left out of the tour.
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And yet, both Gupte and Kripal were dropped.
The Board Secretary met Gupte just ahead of India's tour of West Indies that followed.
- Did you try and stop Kripal making the call?
- He is a big man. How can I stop him?
Gupte was left out of the tour.
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Gupte never played Test cricket again: "My father thought of suing Kripal but he had no money. I would have liked to have played against the West Indies, make it my last trip."
His wish to return to West Indies for one final time probably had to do with two reasons.
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His wish to return to West Indies for one final time probably had to do with two reasons.
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Gupte's first overseas international tour was in the West Indies, in 1952-53.
He picked up 27 wickets in 5 Tests at under 30.
He had met Carolyn on that tour of the West Indies. They had got married in 1957.
But that second trip never happened.
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He picked up 27 wickets in 5 Tests at under 30.
He had met Carolyn on that tour of the West Indies. They had got married in 1957.
But that second trip never happened.
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Gupte never played for India again. He was only 32.
In fact, the Guptes left India for good. They settled in Trinidad.
He died in Port-of-Spain. They loved him there.
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In fact, the Guptes left India for good. They settled in Trinidad.
He died in Port-of-Spain. They loved him there.
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To quote Mihir Bose, "India's first great spinner ended his career because he happened to share a room with a man who wanted a drink with a girl. Only in India could it have happened."
*Carol Gupte
Carolyn is their daughter.
Carolyn is their daughter.
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