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Dilip Vengsarkar, a tall, upright stroke-maker, had a liking for Lord's,
scoring centuries in the Tests of each of his first three tours. He
made 103 in 1979, 157 in 1982 and 126 not out in 1986, when he also
scored a Test century at Headingley. In 1990 he scored 52 and 35 at
Lord's. He made his debut for India as an opening bat at Auckland in
1976. In a 1976-77 series against England he was hit on the head by a
Bob Willis bouncer and only played in one Test. He had to wait until
1979-80 for his first home century, scoring 157 not out against West
Indies in Calcutta. He followed with two other centuries in the series.
He scored 112 against Australia in Bangalore soon after, followed by 146
not out against Pakistan in New Delhi. Vengsarkar made two more
centuries when West Indies came back to India in 1983-4, and 94 in
Antigua in the intervening series in the Caribbean. There was also 164
not out against Australia in Bombay in 1986-87 followed by 153 and 163
against Sri Lanka in the same season. Against Pakistan he made 96 at
Madras and 109 at Ahmedabad. Appointed captain against West Indies in
1987-88 he made centuries in Delhi and Calcutta. He was India's captain
in 10 Tests.
In 1988-89 he was a member of the Indian team that toured
Bangladesh. In 1985 he played for Staffordshire. Playing in the World
Cups of 1979 and 1983 he lost his place in the team for the final. In
the 1987 Cup he scored 63 against Australia in Delhi. (Bob Harragan)
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