Insight on Padmakar Shivalkar’s career – By Suhas Bengeri

On ration card his name read  ‘Padmakar Kashinath Shivalkar’. But for all cricket fans & players He was known as ’Paddy’. He was born on 14.09.1940.  Let us have a look at his record:

 Batting style Right-hand bat

 Bowling style Slow left-arm orthodox

 

Batting and fielding averages-

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct	St
First-class	124	114	59	515	37	9.36	0	0	63	0
List A	12	6	4	36	10*	18.00	0	0	2	0

 

Bowling averages-

	Mat	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
First-class	124	34125	11603	589	8/16		19.69	2.04	57.9		42	13
List A	12	892	495	16	3/35	3/35	30.93	3.32	55.7	0	0	0

 

Career statistics-

First-class span	1961/62 – 1987/88
List A span	1973/74 – 1978/79

 

Paddy had a great average in Bowling. 589 wickets in First Class at an average less than 20. His best was against Tamil Nadu in Ranji   final in 1972-73 at Chennai. The host had prepared spinning track or Aakhada. On this type of wickets, spinners have to just bowl straight & wicket does the rest. The hosts had 2 experienced bowlers in the form of Venkant & VV Kumar. Mumbai  had Paddy. The match was such a low scoring one that it lasted only 2 days. On the 1st ball of third day Paddy took 13 wickets.

 

In the Ranji trophy final between Mumbai and Maharashtra , Shivalkar played a major role. Mumbai were weakened as their  main players were in West Indies on national duty while Maharashtra had Chetan Chouhan, Gupte, Kanitkar and shrude captain Borde. Shivalkar took 8 wickets which enabled Mumbai to win Ranji trophy.

He was unlucky to be playing in the same era when another left arm spinner was making all international players dance to his tune. Yes…..it was Bishan Singh Bedi.

No body was surprised when his name was announced for C K Naidudu  Lifetime Achievement Award.