Did You Know - Madhav Apte Played Alongside 14-Year-Old Sachin Tendulkar In Mumbai League?

Madhav Apte, who played seven Tests for the Indian cricket team and averaged nearly 50, was terribly unlucky to not have played more for the national team. His playing days was more from 1952 to 1953 and it was in one series against the West Indies where he made his mark. Apte was a brilliant player for Mumbai and he regularly contributed. When one talks about Sachin Tendulkar, it is a different era. Tendulkar was supreme in his batting for India and Mumbai, becoming the leading run-getter in both ODIs and Tests as well as establishing himself as the gold standard of batsmanship in cricket. 

However, did you know that both Tendulkar and Apte have played together? Following the death of Apte, Tendulkar took to his social media handle and praised the contributions of Apte in his cricketing career. "Have fond memories of Madhav Apte Sir. I got to play against him at Shivaji Park when I was 14. Still remember the time when he & Dungarpur Sir let me play for the CCI as a 15-year old. He always supported me & was a well wisher. May his Soul Rest In Peace," Tendulkar tweeted. 

Makrand Waingankar, veteran journalist and a chronicler of Mumbai cricket's golden era, had said Apte's presence in the Kanga League spanned generations. "He played the Kanga League for 50 years. As a teenager, he played alongside Professor DB Deodhar and as a veteran in his 50s, played alongside a kid called Sachin Tendulkar. He last played when he was 71 years old. He would wear those spotless whites and walk with a kit bag and umbrella like a commoner. In his 60s, he played Abbey Kuruvilla, who was half his age," Waigankar told PTI.

Also Read | Revealed - Why Madhav Apte, Who Averaged Nearly 50 In Tests, Played Only Seven Games For India

Apte played in every edition of the Kanga League from 1948 till potentially 2004 and Tendulkar played alongside him during the 1987 edition of the League. The Kanga Cricket League is a unique cricketing competition in Mumbai in that the league is held during the monsoon season in Mumbai.

Also Read | Madhav Apte, Veteran Indian Cricket Team Batsman, Dies At 86

It is named after  Hormasji Kanga, who played 43 First class cricket matches as an all-rounder, and was also a selector for the India national cricket team. Tendulkar appeared in the league representing John Bright Cricket Club at the age of 11 and in 1985-86, he played the whole season aged 12.

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