Chennai.
Chingleput Doraikannu Gopinath, one of the oldest and most respected figures in Indian cricket, passed away at the age of 96. According to reports, Gopinath died at his daughter’s residence in Adyar, Chennai. After the death of Dattajirao Gaekwad in 2024, Gopinath was the last surviving member of the Indian team that recorded the country’s first-ever Test victory.
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association expressed grief over the demise of the legendary cricketer and wrote on X, “Rest in peace, C.D. Gopinath! A true pioneer of Indian cricket and the last surviving member of the historic team that scripted India’s first Test win. Your legacy will forever remain immortal in the rich history of the game.”
Born on March 1, 1930, in Chennai (then known as Madras), Gopinath represented the classic era of cricket. The right-handed batsman earned recognition through consistent performances in domestic cricket for Madras, which eventually paved the way for his selection to the national team.
Gopinath made his Test debut in 1951–52 against England and left an immediate impact. In his very first match, he scored an unbeaten half-century and followed it up with another impressive innings at Brabourne Stadium during the same series. He played his final international match in 1960 against Australia at Eden Gardens.
He also played a key role in India’s historic Test victory against England in Chennai, contributing a crucial 35 runs and taking an important catch of Brian Statham off the bowling of Vinoo Mankad. Mankad was the star performer of the match, claiming 8 wickets in the first innings and 4 in the second.
In his Test career, Gopinath played 8 matches, scoring 242 runs at an average of 22, including one half-century. He also took 1 wicket. In 83 first-class matches, he scored 4,259 runs with 9 centuries and picked up 14 wickets.
From the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, Gopinath captained Madras in several seasons. In the 1970s, he served as a national selector and later became the chairman of the selection committee. He also worked as the manager of the Indian team during the 1979 tour of England.
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