Former India and Mumbai captain Dilip Vengsarkar has long been respected not only for his prowess on the cricket field during the 1970s and 80s but also for his tenure as one of India's most decisive chief selectors. During a recent event in Mumbai, former batter-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar shared heartfelt anecdotes about how Vengsarkar acted as a pivotal mentor and protector during the early stages of his international career.

The Battle for Selection

Manjrekar recalled a particularly tense selection meeting in December 1988, ahead of India's 1989 tour of the West Indies. While the selection committee, chaired by Raj Singh Dungarpur, was resistant to his inclusion, Vengsarkar, who was captain at the time, stood his ground.

"One thing that I owe to Dilip is that he backed me, no matter what... He got a lot of resistance from other selectors, who were saying that he's not ready and he doesn't deserve to be here. But Dilip was the guy who put his foot down. They all ganged up, but he kept fighting," Manjrekar recalled.

Despite being drafted in as the 17th member of the squad and replacing veteran Mohinder Amarnath, Manjrekar justified Vengsarkar's faith. In a series where India struggled immensely—losing the Test series 3-0 and the ODIs 5-0—Manjrekar emerged as India's highest run-scorer with 200 runs, including a standout 108 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

A Mentor and a 'Buddy'

Manjrekar emphasized that Vengsarkar’s greatness lay in his humility. Despite the gap in seniority and stature, Vengsarkar treated younger players as equals, avoiding the rigid hierarchies often found in dressing rooms.

"Dilip, despite being a senior player, was a little different in the sense that, despite the age gap and the stature gap as well, we were buddies," Manjrekar stated. He also noted how Vengsarkar would subtly praise him in public to build his confidence during his time playing local cricket.

Personal Quirks and Humour

The event also brought out some lighter, more personal stories. Manjrekar revealed a surprising quirk about the 116-Test veteran: his aversion to sleeping alone. According to Manjrekar, Vengsarkar's preference for sharing rooms was one of the reasons he didn't want to captain India for too long, as captains are typically assigned single rooms.

The gathering took place at the launch of 'A Legend with a Difference', a book written by Sanjay Satam. The event was attended by several of Vengsarkar's former teammates, including Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Karsan Ghavri, Raju Kulkarni, and Chandrakant Pandit, as well as MCA president Ajinkya Naik.