Born in Mumbai on 1 April 1941, Wadekar would go on to serve Indian cricket with distinction for more than 40 years as a player, selector, manager, and match referee, and received a lifetime achievement award from the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2011.

He is best remembered for his role in securing India’s first overseas Test series triumphs.

In 1968, Wadekar was part of the side that won 3-1 in New Zealand, scoring his only Test century in the third match of that series. Then he was named captain ahead of the tour of the Caribbean in early 1971, and led the team to a 1-0 series win. Soon after, in England the same year, Wadekar was captain as India won 1-0. They remained India’s only overseas triumphs for more than 20 years.

He also captained India in their maiden one-day international against England in 1972, and made the team's first ODI half-century. In total, he made 2113 Test runs at an average of 31.07, and 15,380 first-class runs at an average of 47.03, with 36 centuries.

Ajit Wadekar was born on 1 April 1941 and died aged 77 on 15 August 2018.