Madras test 1952

Indian cricket mourns the loss of CD Gopinath, who passed away at the age of 96, marking the end of a remarkable era in the sport. He was the last surviving member of India’s historic first-ever Test-winning team in 1952.

Gopinath never had any intention of becoming a cricketer and was an accidental cricketer. He started playing cricket at 17. ‘No one believes me when I tell them that I started that late. I had played hockey, football and tennis before, but never cricket,’ he used to say.