Atul Bedade

Atul Chandrakant Bedade
(Pakistan vs India 1994 Pepsi Austra Asia Cup Sharjah Match Highlights)
A burly batsman who was popular because of his no-holds-barred approach, Atul Bedade preferred hitting sixes to defending, and although spectacular, a degree of caution in certain circumstances might have extended his international career. Few players have hit the ball as hard as Bedade, and he relied on brute force rather than footwork. His popularity forced his selection for the Australasia Cup at Sharjah in April 1994 where his technique was exposed by fast bowlers and his tendency to take chances didn't pay off. In fairness to the selectors, they gave Bedade a chance to prove himself with 13 ODIs in seven months but he made only one fifty - 51 against West Indies. As a No. 6 on India's docile wickets he rarely had time to build an innings - not that he would have hung about in any case. After his brief spell in the limelight he never featured in India's plans, although he continued to bludgeon runs for Baroda.