Sandip Patil, born on August 18, 1956, in Bombay, ( Mumbai), was a right-hand middle order batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler. He represented India from 1980 till 1986. Sandeep Patil, the illustrious son of Madhusudan Patil, the first class cricketer and national level badminton player, turned out to be the pride of his famous father. Sandeep, who spent his childhood in the Shivaji Park locality of Mumbai, did schooling from Balmohan Vidyamandir. Next, he pursued higher studies from Ramnarain Ruia College.

Early Life of Sandeep Patil
Sandeep Patil, got his formal training in cricket from the efficient coach, Ankush `Anna` Vaidya. Sandeep`s contributions to the Bombay University in the Rohinton Baria Trophy eased his promotion into the Bombay Ranji team in 1975-76. After an initial phase of mediocrity, Sandeep displayed his caliber in the first renowned semi-final match against Delhi in 1979. Despite the crumbling down of the first four wickets for a meagre 72, it was in his sixth-wicket stand, that the doggedly determined Sandeep, recklessly struck an 145 in 276 minutes, with 18 brilliant boundaries and a six.

Patil joined the Edmonton in the 1979 -80`s Middlesex league. In the subsequent times, he also enriched Somerset `B` with his sports activity. Sandeep Patil defended West Zone against the visitor team of Australia and India in 1979-80. Patil secured 44 & 23 against Australia, and procured 68 & 71 against Pakistan. His high quality performance made him selected for the final two Test matches against Pakistan.

Cricket Career of Sandip Patil
Just a week prior to his making the debut, he attained outstanding results, his ever best in first-class cricket, at the Wankhede Stadium, against the Saurashtra team. Getting the scope for batting, the very second morning, he embarked on a 45* by lunch, and forged ahead to accomplish his glorious century, from 139 balls. Then, he finally entered the record of double hundreds, by scoring 210 from 205 balls, with seven superb sixes and nineteen fours. His penultimate unparalleled six, crossed the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai and reached the adjacent hockey grounds.

In the final Test, that took place Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Patil pocketed a fairly good 62. He paved the way for his incorporation in the Golden Jubilee Test against England, sometimes later in the same season. Patil, in the meantime has established a strong foothold in the fields of the cricket profession. He was included within the travelling team, venturing out for Australia in 1980-81.

The Australian tour in the first few matches showed him fetching 116 against South Australian squad, consisting of the ravaging Rodney Hogg. His shinning innings of 60 & 97 against the Queensland battalion of Jeff Thomson, Dennis Lillee, Geoff Dymock and Carl Rackemann, indeed deserve mention. He was awarded the man of the match on the occasion of his One-Day International debut, earning him a resplendent 64 against Australia.

First day of the first Test at Sydney, Patil yielded an invincible 65, Inspite of being injured by Hogg`s bowling on the throat. He got hurt even on the right ear by Len Pascoe. Sandeep Patil, had the courage and tenacity, augmented in him. Post two weeks, he fortified in a helmet, acquired an inspiring 174 , comprising of twenty -two fours and a mid-wicket six, by tossing off the formidable bowling of Bruce Yardley at Adelaide. He arrived at this fascinating score, after the demoralizing collapse of the first four wickets at the trivial 130 runs, before the opposition Australia`s 528. Sandeep`s innings stands upright as one of the golden and topmost score, of any Indian in Australia.

His insignificant performance in the home series against England in 1981-82, let him to be excluded from the tour of 1982. But he made a comeback, in the succeeding foreign series. In the Manchester Test, he flaunted his second hundred. He put on 96 runs with Kapil Dev, and rescued the team from impending disaster. The last two balls coming from Ian Botham of England in a single over, was manipulated into three and four, successfully. The following over, he produced four sixes, escalating his runs from 74 to 104. He sustained himself at a splendid 129, not out.

His expedition to Pakistan in 1982-83 was fairly good. He missed the tour to West Indies in 1983, owing to personal problems. Nevertheless, this talented player, resumed to a high gear in the World Cup of 1983. He was one of the best warriors who escorted the Indian echelon, impeccably to the high pedestals of World Cup Championship.

However, his inability in the Tests against Pakistan and West Indies, in 1983-84, faded his sway in cricket. He fared nicely against England, in the next season, even after this unfortunate failure. But somehow, he was not again invited for Tests after two games. He last played for India in a match among the One-Day games of the trip to England. This marked the end of his player`s career. Patil officially declared his retirement from first class cricket, immediately after his participation for Bombay against the Australians in September 1986.

However, he continued as the captain of the Madhya Pradesh team, from 1988 to 1993, with much noteworthy competence. His 185 against Bombay in 1990 was dazzling. Sandeep Patil, served as the coach of the Indian national team and the `A` team. This man with his extraordinary guiding capacities, did elevated the Kenya team to the heights of the 2003 World Cup Semi-final. At present he is the coach of the Oman National Cricket Team.

Batting and Fielding Averages