New Delhi, January 25: Bombay born AL Wadekar, who led India to maiden Test cricket victories over West Indies and England last year, was honored by the President Shri V.V. Giri has been awarded the Padma Shri. Republic Day Awards tonight. Mysore’s eccentric leg-spinner BS Chandrasekhar, whose scintillating bowling at the Oval won India the series against England, has also been honored with the same award. The stylish left-handed Wadekar, who took over from Mansoor Ali Khan (Pataudi) two years ago, was the main architect of India’s historic victories in the Caribbean and England with his admirable and inspiring leadership. Chandrasekhar, who recently completed 200 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, tied the English batsmen with his sharp leg-breaks along with vice-captains S Venkataraghavan and Bishan Singh Bedi. His bowling was so good that English cricket critics unanimously praised him as “one of the best exponents of wrist spin”. Left out of the Indian team’s tour of the West Indies, “Chandra”, as he was popularly known in England, made a spectacular return to Test cricket.
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