Surendra Bhave

A dour batsman, Surendra Bhave always relied more on technique than bravado. His modus operandi as an opener was to consolidate good starts. Over the years he developed himself into an able leader and took Maharashtra to the final of the Ranji Trophy in 1992-93, where they lost to Punjab. In the same season he was picked as an opener for a second-string India squad for a SAARC tourney in Bangladesh. Opening with Navjot Sidhu, he made 81 against Sri Lanka and 42 against Pakistan before the event was abandoned due to riots in Dhaka. After his retirement in 2001 - he represented Maharasthra for 14 years - Bhave immediately turned his focus into coaching and was hired by Cadence Cricket Academy, owned by Ajay Shirke, the Maharashtra Cricket Association chief. Bhave toured remote parts of the state to spot young talent and his hard work paid off when Maharashtra won the Polly Umirgar Trophy for the inter-state Under-15s. Bhave was a Ranji selector for Maharashtra for the 2005 season, and was appointed on the national selection panel in September 2008.
Nagraj Gollapudi (September 2008)