Madhav Apte facts for kids

Madhavrao Laxmanrao Apte (born October 5, 1932 – died September 23, 2019) was a famous Indian cricketer. He played in seven Test matches for India between 1952 and 1953. Later, he became the president of the Cricket Club of India in 1989. He also led the club's Legends Club and was in charge of his family's business, the Apte Group. His brother, Arvind Apte, was also a cricketer. Madhav Apte even served as the Sheriff of Mumbai.

Early Life and Education

Madhav Apte was born on October 5, 1932. His family, the Apte family, had a business that included textile mills and sugar factories.

He first went to Children's Academy. After the Indian government took over the school, he moved to Wilson High School. At Wilson High School, he was encouraged to play cricket, which became a big part of his life.

Apte studied at Mumbai University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree there. He also completed a graduate degree in fine arts at Elphinstone College.

Cricket Career Highlights

Madhav Apte started his cricket journey in 1948. Even though he was a right-hand batsman, he began as a leg spin bowler. His coach was the famous cricketer Vinoo Mankad.

First-Class Debut

In 1951, when he was 19, Apte played his first first-class match. He played for Indian Universities against the Marylebone Cricket Club, which was touring India.

Playing for India

In 1952, at age 20, Apte played his first Ranji Trophy match. He joined the Bombay team and made his national debut against the Pakistan team. He also played one season for the Bengal cricket team.

In 1953, Apte was chosen to play for India's tour to the West Indies. In a match at Port-of-Spain, he was the second-highest scorer for India.

Why He Stopped Playing for India

After his successful tour in the West Indies, Apte was never selected for the national Indian team again. He found this to be "an unsolved mystery." In his autobiography, he shared a story about it. He said that after his good performance, the chief selector, Lala Amarnath, asked his father for a share of their family business. After his father politely said no, Madhav Apte was never picked to play for India again.

He officially retired from international cricket at 34. However, he continued to play first-class cricket. His last first-class game was the 1967–68 Ranji Trophy final. He played for Bombay against Madras.

Unique Cricket Connection

Madhav Apte holds a special record. He is the only cricket player to have played alongside both D. B. Deodhar and Sachin Tendulkar. In 1989, when he became the president of the Cricket Club of India, he gave Sachin Tendulkar his playing membership.

In 2016, Apte strongly argued that the Cricket Club of India was a founding member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. This was important because a new report suggested taking away the club's voting rights.

He also led the club's Legends Club. In 2014, he asked the club to make the Anandji Dossa reference library open to everyone.

Other Roles and Achievements

In December 1983, Madhav Apte was chosen to be the Sheriff of Mumbai. This is an important ceremonial role in the city.

In 2011, he opened the 26th Sportstar Trophy, a well-known sports event. In 2015, at 82 years old, he published his autobiography. It was called As Luck Would Have It and was launched at Wankhede Stadium by Sunil Gavaskar.

Besides cricket, Apte was also successful in business. He served as the president of the Mumbai Chamber of Commerce. He was also the chairman of his family's company, the Apte Group.

Family Life

Madhav Apte's younger brother, Arvind Apte, was also a first-class cricketer. He played for Bombay, Rajasthan, and Indian Universities.

Madhav's son, Vaman Apte, played squash for India. He also played cricket for Mumbai University. His daughter was a champion in inter-school badminton.

Madhav Apte passed away at Breach Candy Hospital on September 23, 2019, at the age of 86.