Subhash Gupte, also known as Subhashchandra Pandharinath Fergie Gupte was an Indian cricket player who was mainly active in the Test cricket. Born on 11th December 1929 in Bombay, he was accredited as one of the finest spin bowlers of the Test cricket, especially as a leg spinner. Flighting and spinning the ball sharply was the forte of Subhash Gupte. He also possessed two different googlies. He was a right handed batsman. During the tour of West Indies to India in the year 1958-59, it was reckoned that Subhash Gupte could turn the ball on glass. However he had a tendency to lose confidence when the batsmen attacked his bowling.
Career of Subhash Gupte
Subhash Gupte made his debut in the arena of cricket in the year 1951. From the next season onwards he took over from Vinoo Mankad as the leading spinner of India. In the year 1952 in West Indies he bagged 27 wickets while in 1955 in India against New Zealand he took 34 wickets. In 1958 he grabbed 9 wickets for 102 runs in an innings against West Indies at Kanpur. He only missed Lance Gibbs who was dropped by the wicket keeper Naren Tamhane. Once while playing for Bombay against Bahawalpur CC in an innings he bagged all the ten wickets. He was renowned all over the world for being a fine leg break-googly bowler.
The sports career of Subhash Gupte came to an end in an unfortunate incident in 1961 when the Indian team was staying at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi during the Test against England. Owing to a controversy which also involved the Indian Test cricketer A. G. Kripal Singh, he was dropped for the subsequent West Indies tour. At that time Subhash Gupte was only 32 and had already captured 149 wickets at 29.55 in 36 Tests. However, after the incident he never played for India again and later moved to Trinidad and settled there. He even represented them for a few first class matches. In the year 1981 a benefit match was organized at Sharjah for Subhash Gupte.
Personal Life of Subhash Gupte
Subhash Gupte was married to a local girl of Trinidad. His brother Baloo Gupte also belonged to the same profession and played for India as a leg spinner.
Death of Subhash Gupte
Subhash Gupte died on 31 May 2002 at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
