In 1976, the Indian team went on a tour of West Indies under the captaincy of Bishan Singh Bedi. After losing the first match, drawing the second and winning the third in the 4-Test series, the Indian team was back in form. The result of the fourth Test match was to decide the series. Something happened in that Test match that more than half of the Indian team had to go to the hospital. Anshuman Gaekwad was also among them. Anshu Sir used to narrate this story very fondly. It seemed as if the Indian team had earned the enmity of the West Indies bowlers after winning the third Test match. On top of that, India had a great start in the fourth and final Test match. West Indies won the toss and invited India to bat with the intention that the entire team would be wrapped up soon.

When Anshuman reached the hospital bed from the field

It is a different matter that Sunil Gavaskar and Anshuman Gaekwad started the innings brilliantly. 100 runs were added on the scoreboard and both the batsmen were moving towards their century with great confidence. West Indies team captain Clive Lloyd probably could not digest this. What happened on the field after this is recorded in the history of cricket. West Indies bowlers, led by Michael Holding, started bowling dangerously. Anshuman Gaekwad became Holding's first victim. Michael Holding's fast ball hit his ear directly. There was heavy bleeding on the field itself. He had been injured many times before this as well. His ribs and fingers were groaning with pain but he had taken charge. After getting injured in the right ear, it was difficult for him to even stand. Anshuman Gaekwad was rushed to the hospital. First he was taken to a government hospital but the conditions there were such that the Indian team management thought it better to take Anshuman to a private hospital.

After Anshuman Gaikwad, Brijesh Patel also reached the hospital

Amidst all this chaos, Anshuman Gaikwad was still on the stretcher when suddenly a voice came in Caribbean style… One more is coming. The man's way of saying was unique and he was also laughing. Anshuman Gaikwad came to know that Brijesh Patel was also injured and brought to the hospital. Anshuman Gaikwad's condition was not good. He was bleeding a lot. The doctors kept him in the ICU. The Indian team management was told that in the next 24 hours it will be decided how many more days Gaikwad will have to stay in the hospital.

Anshuman Gaikwad was remembering the story of the female contractor again and again. Anshuman ji used to say that he was trying his best not to close his eyes, that is, he was trying to avoid fainting even in the condition of terrible pain. He was hung on a pole for X-ray. No one cared about how much pain he must be in. Incidentally, the slogan of Jamaica is 'No problem'. Anshuman Gaikwad got his X-ray done while groaning in pain. Anshuman Gaikwad's condition was not good. He had a terrible headache. Anshuman used to say that if his head moved even a little while lying down, he would get terrible pain. When he informed the doctors there about this, they did something even more dangerous. They made two clamps to keep his head at one place and his head was stuck between them.

He used to say laughingly that it seemed as if he was given an injection meant for animals

Whenever Anshuman felt pain, he was given an injection. Anshuman used to say that the size of that injection was like the one given to animals in our country. The Caribbean doctors were of the opinion that Anshuman Gaikwad should stay in the hospital for some more time. This was also told to the team manager Polly Umrigar. Polly uncle wanted Anshuman Gaikwad to stay there for a few more days and get his treatment done but Anshuman was not ready to accept this as he felt that the whole team would leave him.

Finally, one day he walked on his own to prove to Pauly Kaka that he was fine now. Somehow the Indian team returned with bitter memories. It is said that when the Indian team returned home, the players were unrecognizable. Anshuman Gaikwad, Brijesh Patel and Gundappa Vishwanath had bandages tied on their bodies. With the passing of Anshuman Sir, such stories will no longer be heard from him. It was a matter of courage that Anshu Sir used to narrate such stories with a completely normal attitude.