When Ajit Wadekar's Indian team were on their way to a historic series win in the West Indies during the first half of 1971, a future India player was making a name on Mumbai's inter-school circuit. Dilip Vengsarkar, then 15 and coached by Hemant Hadkar, led King George to a Giles Shield win that year.

Vengsarkar and other well wishers of the veteran coach, contributed to present Hadkar a R3 lakh cheque yesterday for his 51 years of uninterrupted coaching. "Hadkar Sir (90 next March) is still coaching and I must say that he [Hadkar] and Vasu Paranjape (noted coach) did not expect anything in return. They indulged in selfless coaching," said Vengsarkar.