Padmakar Shivalkar-Mumbai’s Legendary Spinner Who Never Played for India Passes Away at 84

Indian cricket has seen many of those talented players who, even with their talent, never found themselves wearing the national jersey. Such a name is Padmakar Shivalkar, who was a left-arm spinner whose time was concurrent with the Indian golden age of spin bowling. On Monday, Shivalkar passed away in Mumbai at the ripe old age of 84, leaving behind a legacy rich in domestic cricket. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

A Pillar of Mumbai Cricket

Shivalkar's contribution to Mumbai cricket was gigantic. He was a key member of the team during its peak years in the Ranji Trophy, playing in 10 winning campaigns from the 1965-66 to the 1976-77 seasons. The Mumbai side, then known as Bombay, was at its peak of domination, winning almost every season from then on. He was also a member of the team that won the title again in 1980-81. In an amazing turn of events, he came out of retirement at 47, featuring in two games during the 1987-88 season, indicating his unquenchable passion for the sport.

A Career Overshadowed by Bishan Bedi

Although his domestic cricket was superb, Shivalkar never represented India. He, together with Rajinder Goel, another left-arm spinner from Haryana, was unfortunate to have played during the same time as Bishan Singh Bedi, one of India's greatest spinners. Sunil Gavaskar, who shared a Mumbai team with Shivalkar, was remorseful in an interview with The Hindu in 2017, stating, "One of the regrets I have is that, as the then captain of the Indian team, I could not convince my fellow selectors to pick Goel Saab and Paddy to play for India.". They were contemporary with the finest left-arm bowler I have ever seen, Mr. Bishan Singh Bedi. Otherwise, they would have played quite a lot of Tests for India.

First-Class Journey and Splendid Records

Shivalkar's maiden first-class performance came in April 1962, when he played for Cricket Club of India President's XI against an International XI with cricket greats like Bob Simpson, Tom Graveney, Colin Cowdrey, Everton Weekes, Richie Benaud, and Sonny Ramadhin. Even against such big guns, he made an impressive start, taking 5 for 129 and 2 for 44 in a match that was drawn.

In a career spanning over two decades, Shivalkar played 124 first-class matches, taking 589 wickets at an impressive average of 19.69. In the Ranji Trophy alone, he claimed 361 wickets, making him the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai in the competition. His best bowling figures, 8 for 16, came in the 1972-73 Ranji Trophy final against Tamil Nadu. On a Chepauk turning track, he took to pieces the opposition, enabling Bombay to win the title within only two days and a ball.

A Master of Flight and Loop

Shivalkar's artful bowling was all about his flight and slight change of pace. His balls would invite batsmen to come forward, only for them to get tricked and stumped. In a conversation with The Cricket Monthly in 2017, he talked about his favorite means of dismissal and said, "I used to enjoy getting the batsman stumped. With my command over the loop, batsmen would step out of the crease and get trapped, beaten, and stumped."

Spinner teammate V. Ramnarayan, who watched Shivalkar and Goel closely, pointed out their strengths in an article he wrote: "Perhaps the greatest virtue of their cricket was their complete reliability. With them in the team, their captains need only concern themselves with their support bowlers. Both were indefatigable, their effortless actions requiring the least amount of effort—or so it appeared.". But it was all their unflagging work behind the nets which enabled them to look so effortless in match scenarios. If ever a comparison was to be made between them, it would only be to express that there wasn't much separating them, but perhaps the only chance being with his flight and subtle changes in pace, Shivalkar's offer was possibly more appealing proposition on good surfaces, whereas Goel might be more devastating on decaying conditions.

Legacy and Recognition

Although he never represented India, Shivalkar's success did not go unrecognized. In 2017, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awarded him the coveted CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award along with Rajinder Goel. It was a belated recognition for two of the best spinners in Indian domestic cricket history.

His death signifies the end of an era, but his legacy in Mumbai cricket and Indian domestic cricket in general is unrivaled. For young cricketers, his tale is a reminder of hard work, determination, and the fact that sometimes, timing can be the greatest determinant of a player's destiny.

Padmakar Shivalkar did not wear the Indian jersey, but his name will forever remain in the books of Indian cricket history as one of the all-time greats left-arm spinners never to have represented the nation.