Delhi Golf Society president Prakash Bhandari, who passed away in Delhi on Wednesday, with a young Shubham Jaglan, now making a name for himself in the sport. Image courtesy FB.
By Rahul Banerji
In just over a week, Prakash Bhandari would have turned 90. On Wednesday, however, the former India cricketer who later worked tirelessly to promote golf, breathed his last.
In his lone Facebook post, Bhandari described himself thus: “I played cricket for India, golf and bridge at international level. I am grateful to have most a lovable family and quality friends. worked with Tata Steel.”
A long-time member of the Delhi Golf Club and a founding father of the Delhi Golf Society, Bhandari was a cricketer of some repute and made his India debut in Pakistan as a teenager.
Bhandari played three Tests — one each against Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia — and 63 first-class matches in the course of which he scored 2,552 runs at a 32.71 average with four centuries and a best of 227 for Delhi against Patiala in 1957-58.
As an off-break bowler, he took 122 first-class wickets including a best of 7 for 54 at a handy 28.24 average having also played in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal and Bihar, besides Delhi.
Bhandari built a reputation of being an attacking batsman representing Delhi Schools and Delhi University, which he also captained at the 1956-57 Rohington Baria inter-university championship.
Deep involvement
Post cricket, Bhandari was a fixture at the DGC and in his later years became deeply involved with the growth and development of the sport at the grassroots level.
Along with Ajit Haksar, Justice Vikramjit Sen, Ashok Malik, Guli Juneja and Champika Sayal, he founded the Delhi Golf Society with the aim of promoting and developing the game in his home state.
DGS initiatives included the long-running NCR Cup and the Delhi State Championship besides other initiatives to groom and develop junior talent as the governing body for golf in Delhi.
Bhandari was the 25th president of the Indian Golf Union till November 2005.
His banker son Vivek was a golfer of promise and went on to play professionally with some success for several years till 2013.
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