The cricketing world is mourning the loss of former India left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi, who passed away in London on Monday, June 23, 2025, at the age of 77. Sources close to his family have confirmed that the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
Born on December 22, 1947, in Rajkot, Gujarat, Doshi was a prominent figure in Indian cricket, known for his classical left-arm spin bowling and his intelligent approach to the game. Despite making his international debut relatively late in his career, he left an indelible mark with his skill, accuracy, and unwavering dedication.
Doshi played 33 Test matches for India between 1979 and 1983, securing 114 wickets at an average of 30.71. He also represented India in 15 One Day Internationals, taking 22 wickets. A late bloomer in international cricket, Doshi made his debut at the age of 32. He distinguished himself as one of only four Test bowlers who debuted after the age of 30 yet went on to claim over 100 wickets.
Before his international career, Doshi had already established himself in domestic cricket, primarily with Bengal, and in English county cricket. In his long Ranji Trophy career, he took 318 wickets at an impressive average of 18.33. Overall, his first-class career spanned 238 matches, where he took 898 wickets at 26.58 apiece.
Even before getting a chance to play for India, Doshi made a name for himself while playing county cricket. He was a master of flight and his control over the ball, made him a well-respected figure in the county circuit. Doshi, in fact, is the luckiest among three great left-arm spinners in Indian domestic cricket history, whose chances of representing India got hampered because they were born in the same era as Bedi.
Doshi's Test debut came in September 1979 against Australia in Chennai. In that match, he immediately made an impact, taking 6/103 and 2/64, making him India's best bowler in the game. In the final match of the series in Bombay (now Mumbai), he played a crucial role in India's victory, taking 5/43 and 3/60 in the match.
Despite his success, Doshi's international career was relatively short. Some believe that the emergence of Maninder Singh hastened the end of Doshi's test career. There have also been suggestions that his relationship with Sunil Gavaskar may have contributed to his exclusion from the Test team.
Niranjan Shah, a former secretary of the BCCI, expressed grief over Doshi's passing, lauding him not only as a legendary cricketer but also as one of the finest human beings. Jaydev Shah, president of the Saurashtra Cricket Association, remembered Doshi as an uncle and mentor, highlighting his irreplaceable loss to the cricketing fraternity.
Dilip Doshi is survived by his wife, Kalindi, his son Nayan, who also played cricket for Surrey and Saurashtra, and his daughter Vishakha. His legacy as a skilled spinner and a dedicated cricketer will continue to inspire generations to come.
