Farewell to Chetan Chauhan who strengthened the foundation of fearlessness in Indian openers

It is rare to see the success of others rather than one's own achievements. This is a quality that is essential for achieving a goal through joint efforts. Unless the masculinity of such mute servants is achieved, the set goal cannot be reached.

The concern of Bahujan Hitaya and Bahujan Sukhaya without caring for oneself may not get the respect as per their sacrifice but at the foundation of collective progress there is nothing but their sacrifice. The Indian cricket world has reached the top spot in the world today. The Indian team and the players have created their own fear on teams around the world.

The foundation stone of this development journey of the Indian team, which has reached its seventh year of success, is the contribution of many years of hard work and many well-known and unknown cricketers, which can never be denied. The confidence of his predecessors can be seen in the fearless and adventurous batting of the great openers that Indian cricket has had in the last few decades, and why forget the opening batsman Chetan Chauhan, an important link in this journey of development?

The innings of Chetan Chauhan's life has finally come to an end after battling a global epidemic, but his fighting spirit and fearless approach are set to remain intact in Indian cricket forever. Chetan Chauhan has played in 50 Tests and 3 ODIs in his 15-year international career.

The Indian opener, known for his exceptional defensive skills and for surviving on the pitch, could never reach a three-digit score. However, statistical success is not the only criterion for evaluating a player's talent in a team sport like cricket and Chetan Chauhan's name is at the forefront of the list of players who have achieved teammate achievement as well as team supremacy.

Chetan Pratap Singh Chauhan was born to a Rajput family in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, just days before independence. His father was an officer in the army and when he was transferred, 14-year-old Chetan also moved to Pune with his family. This is where his career as a cricketer began. Mumbai was the hub of Indian cricket at that time. Pune's famous coach late. His career took shape under the watchful eye of Kamal Bhandarkar.

Kamal Chandarkar's coaching has been instrumental in the careers and batting techniques of many veteran batsmen from Chandu Borde to Sunil Gavaskar. Chetan Chauhan, who has made a name for himself in the midst of fierce competition in Mumbai cricket, also made his debut in the college level tournament with Sunil Gavaskar.

Chetan, who made his international debut on September 14, had a very slow start. He was fearless in his batting and as an opening batsman he was adept at beating the spirits of rivals by staying on the pitch. However, in the first five years of his career, he did not make much of an impact and was dropped from the team. Meanwhile, Bishan Singh Bedi sent him to E.S. Brought to Delhi in 19th. Where he rekindled his career.

In a pre-season practice match in the second year of his arrival in Delhi, he lost consciousness in measuring the ball's bounce and the ball hit his face. Some of his teeth fell out and he was rushed to hospital in a blood-sucking condition, where he was diagnosed with a jaw fracture.

Doctors advised Chetan to stay away from cricket for three months, but Chetan resumed practice a few weeks later and returned. With a fractured jaw, he could only carry fluids and yet he created a sensation by scoring a century in three consecutive matches, including the final in the home tournament. As a result, he returned to the Indian team after a five-year hiatus and this time a glimpse of his confidence was evident in his batting.

Playing the first innings of his career on foreign soil after his return, he faced a formidable fast bowler like Jeff Thompson and scored 4 runs. With this, he and Gavaskar started a memorable chapter of the opening partnership in the history of Indian cricket.

Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar maintained India's dominance in the Lahore Test during the tour of Australia after the tour of Australia in a very tense and mental struggle against more than forty thousand Pakistani supporters. However, India lost when Pakistan got the umpires in their favor.

Chetan Chauhan understood his role as an opener very well. They kept one end in check, cooling the bowlers' vigor and increasing Gavaskar's run speed from the opposite end. Even though Chetan Chauhan could hit a good stroke, he understood the need of the team and played his role effectively. The duo of Gavaskar and Chauhan set a then record in Indian cricket with a partnership of ten centuries. The best partnership of all was in the fourth Oval Test of the series played on the 19th England tour.

Gavaskar and Chauhan had a double century partnership after chasing a huge score of 3 runs to win. Facing bowlers like Bob Willis-Ian Botham, the duo had hoped for a historic victory, but unfortunately it turned out to be a Test draw but the experience prepared Indian cricket for new challenges.

In the same series, Chetan scored more than 50 in both innings of the Kanpur Test in his home state of Uttar Pradesh. He then hit a half-century on the crease for about five and a half hours in the Test against Pakistan in Kanpur on December 19.

Is. Chetan struggled for more than five hours on the 191 tour of Australia but was just three centuries away from the century. He never considered the unique record of not reaching a three-digit score even once in his career as his unfortunate achievement. Everyone seemed to feel a kind of satisfaction playing their role at the crease. After this, the 191 tour of New Zealand became the final stage of his career.

Cricket remained at the forefront of his life even after he retired as a player. Starting from Delhi cricket, he took a personal interest in preparing the ground and served in various capacities. He also had success in his political career and along with his political journey he never let the bridge of affection with cricket break.

Chetan Chauhan made invaluable contributions to honing the careers and talents of many Indian cricket legends. Even in the fight against the Corona epidemic, they struggled just like their batting style and eventually they could not reach the line of victory.

Chetan Chauhan is also credited with Delhi's dominance in the Indian opening. The departure of a team-man like him and a hardworking and dedicated cricketer who is always ready to work for cricket has created a kind of void in Indian cricket, which is difficult to fill.