Dilip Sardesai was part of Ajit Wadekar's victorious team of 1971. Sunil Gavaskar's 774-run tally became synonymous with that series vs West Indies. So should have Dilip Sardesai\'s 642 runs that got him the 'Renaissance man of Indian cricket' title

Sardesai was popularly known as 'Sardee-man'. During his successful 1970-71 tour to West Indies, Sardesai was asked at the airport whether he had anything to declare. He replied, 'I have come here with runs and I'll go back with more.' During his entire career, which spanned 13 seasons, Bombay never lost a Ranji Trophy match with Dilip Sardesai in the side.

Dilip Sardesai's career changed when he was picked for the Indian tour of West Indies in 1970-71. In the 1st Test at Kingston, India lost the first five wickets for 75, before Sardesai hit 212 runs and took the total to 387. His 112 in the next Test at Port of Spain led to India's first victory over the West Indies. He hit another 150 in the 4th Test after India were 70 for 6. His 642 runs in the series stood as an Indian record for five days before Sunil Gavaskar went past it. It was India's first victory over West Indies in a series and Vijay Merchant, the chairman of selectors, called Dilip Sardesai the "Renaissance Man of Indian cricket".A picture of Dilip Sardesai in 1971

Dilip Sardesai is survived by his wife Nandini, a son and two daughters. Dilip Sardesai's wife is a sociologist as well as an Indian Censor Board member. Sardesai's son Rajdeep earned a blue from Oxford University in the sport his father played and became famous. Rajdeep is also a prominent journalist.Dilip Sardesai with his wife Nandini and son Rajdeep Sardesai in an archived photo.

Dilip Narayan Sardesai was the only cricketer born in Goa to play for the Indian national cricket team. He is still considered one of India's best batsmen against spin bowling

Former Mumbai captain Shishir Hattangadi once recalled how he never forgot Dilip Sardesai's telephone number when the batting great was staying at Cuffe Parade. "Sardesai was chairman of selectors when I was captain of the Mumbai under-22 team. We used to discuss cricket often over the phone. I once asked him how do I remember his number and he said, 'if you remember my double century in the West Indies, you will remember it.' His number was 212 124 and 212 was his score in the Kingston Test. I have never forgotten it," said Hattangadi.

Dilip Narayan Sardesai passed away on July 2, 2007, at the age of 66. Dilip Sardesai won 30 Test caps for India and has scored 2001 runs with a batting average of 39.23 and a top score of 212

In picture: Hanumant Singh, Milind Rege, Ajit Wadekar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Gundappa Vishwanath and Dilip Sardesai at Cricket Club of India (CCI) poolside, during the release of a book

In picture: Dilip Sardesai with his wife Nandini at their residence in Marine Drive, South Mumbai

(From left) Ex-India all-rounder Salim Durrani, Niranjan Shah (in the middle) appears delighted to welcome former Test batsman Dilip Sardesai at a function

In picture: Dilip Sardesai offers batting tips to Mumbai batsman Salil Vaidya at the Wankhede Stadium in the 1998-99 season

In picture: Uddav Thackeray, Mumbai Cricket Association joint secretary Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, Dilip Sardesai at Samana Trophy, press conference at Wankhede Stadium

An archived photo of Dilip Sardesai with his wife and friend at a party

In picture: Sanjay Manjrekar (left) with Dilip Sardesai at the Press Club of India in Mumbai

(From Left) Former West Indies cricketer Sir Clive Lloyd, and ex-cricketers Ashok Mankad and Dilip Sardesai caught in a candid moment

In picture: Dilip Sardesai talking to U-19 India team Captain Ambati Rayudu at CCI

In picture: Ricky Ponting, former Australian cricketer shares a light moment with Dilip Sardesai at Hotel Regent, Bandra, Mumbai

In picture: Dilip Sardesai signing the ' Good Luck India book ' for the Cricket World Cup at the Taj Mahal hotel on Friday, while Raj Singh Dungarpur, Ramchand and Yajuvendar Singh look on

In picture: Harsh Goenka and Dilip Sardesai at the 71st birthday party of Busybee (Behram Contractor)

In picture: Dilip Vengsarkar and Dilip Sardesai watch Mumbai play against Bengal during a Ranji Finals match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

In picture: Sunil Gavaskar, Raj Singh Dungarpur, Dilip Sardesai and Mohammed Azharuddin during the launch of the book 'One-Day cricket - the Indian challenge', written by Ashish Ray, at C K Naidu hall in Cricket Club Of India (CCI)