Meet man, friend of Sunil Gavaskar, helped out Tendulkar by..., benefactor of Indian cricketers like Vengsarkar, Manjrekar, Kaif

Suleman 'Solly' Adam and his family walked for four days through the Thar Desert, sweltering with the sun on their heads and hot sand. Solly, just 7, held his mother's hand, his 4-year-old sister on his father's shoulders. They were handcuffed during the journey. They were later released near the newly marked border and told to leave for Pakistan. This was in 1952. It was the story of Solly's family being picked up from a village in Gujarat after Partition and sent to Pakistan. Though perplexed about where they were going, Solly was worried about whether he would ever be able to play his favourite sport cricket again.
After a difficult childhood, teenage Solly boarded a ship to England with just £3. Hardly anyone would have imagined that he would go on to own several houses, petrol pumps, supermarkets and never miss a chance to play cricket. A homeless boy would provide shelter to countless visitors, mostly players playing club cricket in Yorkshire. Sunil Gavaskar and Imran Khan would be his close friends.
Solly, who is 80 years old, told the Indian Express, I truly believe that difficult roads often lead to beautiful places and cricket has taught me many lessons of life. Solly has many guests at his house these days. Sunil Gavaskar arrived at his house two days before the first Test of the India vs England 5 match series. This Indian legend has visited his house many times before. 'Solly' was very excited during the phone conversation. Solly says, 'Sunil told me that I am here and we will meet during the Test match. I am very happy.'
There is another reason why this meeting is special. This is the first Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy series. It was Solly who convinced both Yorkshire and Sachin Tendulkar to sign a contract in 1992, resulting in the Indian legend becoming the first overseas player to call Headingley home.
Solly said, 'The moment I got to know, I reached out to the Yorkshire club. I asked them why don't you sign an Indian or a Pakistani? I argued that Yorkshire has a large number of Asian immigrants, so they can consider Tendulkar or Javed Miandad.' This was the time when the great Don Bradman said that watching Tendulkar bat reminds him of his own batting. In two to three hours, Solly convinced the Yorkshire management. Solly says, 'They chose Tendulkar, but there was a problem.'
Away from the outside world, Yorkshire officials did not know how to reach Sachin Tendulkar. Solly told them to leave it to him. When Sachin Tendulkar was playing club cricket in England, Solly had hosted him. He had also attended Solly's son's wedding. When Yorkshire's offer came, Tendulkar was in Australia (in the middle of the Test series). When Solly called, Tendulkar, who was already troubled by international and domestic commitments, could not believe it. Now Solly can talk. His ever-growing business empire was thanks to his talent as a deal-maker. Solly says, 'I told him that he is young and can do it. Later I asked my friend Sunil (Gavaskar) to talk to Tendulkar. Sunil had benefited from playing for Somerset. Eventually Tendulkar was persuaded and history was made.'
After reaching Leeds, Sollybhai's residence will be Tendulkar's second home, where hot Indian food is always ready in the dining room. Ever since Solly was an active club cricketer, his house has been open to Indian and Pakistani cricketers. Generations of Indian cricketers like Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Chandrakant Pandit, Sanjay Manjrekar, Abhay Kuruvilla, Sairaj Bahutule, Mohammad Kaif, Wasim Jaffer have enjoyed his hospitality.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

38 minutes ago

• Time of India

Crown passed on as Shubman Gill inherits India's no. 4 spot

India's Shubman Gill (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File) Wanderers, 2013: All eyes were on the Indian dressing room as Cheteshwar Pujara and M Vijay were battling it out against Dale Steyn and Co. This was the first Test after Sachin Tendulkar had retired and the talk in the leadup had been all about his replacement at No. 4. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were padded up but when the latter walked in to bat at the fall of Vijay's wicket, we all knew who would be the new king of Indian cricket . This time around, vice-captain Rishabh Pant has poured cold water on all the speculation by announcing that new captain Shubman Gill will be the heir apparent to the recentlyretired Kohli at No. 4. It is clear indication that the team management now considers Gill as their most valuable batter. 'Once Virat retired, coach Gambhir and I had a discussion and he wanted me to bat at No. 4, an idea that I endorsed as well,' Gill said in Leeds on Thursday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Tendulkar and Kohli turned No. 4 into a glamour slot with the 13,492 and 7564 runs they scored batting at that position, but both also got oneslot promotions when they first took up the role. Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar , meanwhile, came down from No. 3 to No. 4, just like Gill, when he made that slot his own back in the 1980s. 'I was batting at No. 3 before but when Vishy (GR Viswanath) retired, I was asked to come down at No. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 4. It was slightly easier to bat at No. 4 than No. 3, because by the time I came in to bat, the ball often got slightly older,' Vengsarkar told TOI. Shubman's Big Test Begins! India's Probable XI & Stokes' Mind Games | ENG vs IND 1st Test Preview It was the Mumbai right-hander's brilliant run with the bat at No. 4, when he got two centuries and a halfcentury, that helped India win a Test series in England in 1986. 'That was one series where I wasn't always getting the cushion of playing against the older ball. Our top three wasn't in the best of touch and I was often batting pretty early on. But at the end of the day, it's a game of confidence,' Vengsarkar said. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? In the second innings of the second Test, when the master right-hander scored a 102 not out to seal the series, he had come out with the score reading 9-2. While Vengsarkar went into that England series having scored runs in that part of the world before, Gill hasn't had a very good run in England. In the three Tests in England prior to this, the new captain aggregates a paltry 88. He needs to turn that record around pretty fast. The ball swinging in has been a cause of worry for the 25-year-old, and the new skipper has in the past often found his stumps rattled. 'The one suggestion I can give Gill is that he should try to get his bat down a little straighter instead of it coming down from gully, like it is right now. The right forearm should touch his waist as he looks to play the ball. That will allow him to play straighter,' Vengsarkar said. The dual job of captaincy and batting at No. 4 is another aspect that the Mumbai man had handled pretty well during his playing days. Gill will have to do the same again in challenging conditions. The fact that there is a bit of inexperience around him may make this slightly difficult. But Vengsarkar believes Gill has the ability to deal with the pressure, given his natural talent. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here

India.com

38 minutes ago

• India.com

Sachin Tendulkar gives advise to India's new Test skipper Shubman Gill, says 'don't worry about the outside world'

Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson pose alongside the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy New Delhi: Indian cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar has been extremely confident about the young Team India that has flown to England to play an eagerly-awaited five-match Test series against host England, which will kick off this Friday at Headingley in Leeds. He believes in the potential of his squad much like he also once believed 23 years ago when he made a brilliant 193 in the overwhelming India innings and 46-run victory over Nasser Hussain led England, at the same ground in which current Indian squad will now face Ben Stokes and his squad. Sachin Tendulkar in an interview given to mid-day rubbished speculations made by some detractors that the present Indian team is inexperienced. He added that the Indian cricket has a rich heritage of developing and moving through new groups, and this team is not going to be any different in this respect. Sachin Tendulkar has provided a piece of advice to the new captain of the Indian Test team, Shubman Gill, and assures him that he should not be afraid to take a risk and do anything bold because of the opinion of other people. 'It's a new phase in his life. He looked comfortable when I saw him in the IPL [leading Gujarat Titans]. Under his leadership, this is a great opportunity for this team. They can write a nice, new chapter in Indian cricket, which people, years down the line, will remember. It will be nice to look back and say, this was a good phase of Indian cricket.' said Sachin Tendulkar.

Business Standard

42 minutes ago

• Business Standard

England vs India head-to-head, series result, IND-ENG Test cricket history

The much-anticipated 1st Test between India and England kicks off on June 20, 2025, at Headingley, where every blade of grass seems to whisper cricket history. As both teams look to begin the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle on a high, let's dive into the numbers that define this iconic Test rivalry. India vs England Head-to-Head record (Overall) India and England have clashed in 136 Test matches to date since 1932. England maintain a historical edge, but the gap has been narrowing, especially in recent years. Despite the early dominance of England, the last decade has seen India significantly improve their Test performances both home and away. India has won 4 of the last 5 Tests against England, showcasing their growing confidence in this historic rivalry. India vs England Last 5 Tests Match Result Winner Venues India won by innings and 64 runs India Dharamsala India won by 5 wickets India Ranchi India won by 434 runs India Rajkot India won by 106 runs India Vishakhapatnam England won by 28 runs England Hyderabad India's Struggles in England Winning a Test series in England remains India's Achilles heel. The last time they conquered English soil in a series was back in 2007. Since then, despite coming close, most notably in 2022, they've struggled to finish the job. In 2022, India were leading the series but couldn't seal it in the rescheduled final Test (in Manchester), adding to the heartbreak. As the 2025 series begins, both teams bring a mix of youth and experience. For India, it's about unfinished business and rewriting history in England. For England, it's about defending home turf and reasserting dominance. One thing's certain: the tea will be hot, and the contest even hotter. IND vs ENG head-to-head stats in England (Tests) IND vs ENG head-to-head stats in India (Tests) IND vs ENG Head-to-Head in Tests in India Team Matches Won Total Matches 68 England Wins 14 India Wins 22 Drawn 32 India vs England Test history The Test cricket rivalry between India and England is among the oldest and most iconic in the sport. It began on June 25, 1932, when India played its first-ever Test match at Lord's. Led by C.K. Nayudu, India faced an experienced England side captained by Douglas Jardine. England won that historic Test by 158 runs, but it marked the beginning of a rich cricketing legacy between the two nations. For decades, England dominated the rivalry, particularly at home, but India gradually found its footing. A turning point came in 1971 when India, under Ajit Wadekar, clinched its first-ever series win in England, a feat anchored by the brilliance of Sunil Gavaskar and the spin of Bhagwat Chandrasekhar. To commemorate 75 years of India's first tour of England, the Pataudi Trophy was introduced in 2007. It was named in honour of Mansur Ali Khan "Tiger" Pataudi, India's youngest Test captain, and his father Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the only cricketer to have played Tests for both England and India. The trophy has since been awarded to the winner of India-England Test series played in England. With over 135 Tests played, this rivalry remains a cornerstone of international cricket, steeped in history, prestige, and fierce competition. India vs England Test series result in England India vs England Test Series Results in England Series/Tournament Season Winner Margin India in England Test Match 1932 England 1-0 (1) India in England Test Series 1936 England 2-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1946 England 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1952 England 3-0 (4) India in England Test Series 1959 England 5-0 (5) India in England Test Series 1967 England 3-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1971 India 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1974 England 3-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1979 England 1-0 (4) India in England Test Series 1982 England 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1986 India 2-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1990 England 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 1996 England 1-0 (3) India in England Test Series 2002 Drawn 1-1 (4) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2007 India 1-0 (3) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2011 England 4-0 (4) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2014 England 3-1 (5) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2018 England 4-1 (5) Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2021–2022 Drawn 2-2 (5) India vs England Test series result in India India vs England Test Series Results in India Series/Tournament Season Winner Margin England in India Test Series 1933/34 England 2-0 (3) England in India Test Series 1951/52 Drawn 1-1 (5) England in India Test Series 1961/62 India 2-0 (5) England in India Test Series 1963/64 Drawn 0-0 (5) England in India Test Series 1972/73 India 2-1 (5) England in India Test Series 1976/77 England 3-1 (5) Golden Jubilee Test (England in India) 1979/80 England – England in India Test Series 1981/82 India 1-0 (6) England in India Test Series 1984/85 England 2-1 (5) England in India Test Series 1992/93 India 3-0 (3) England in India Test Series 2001/02 India 1-0 (3) England in India Test Series 2005/06 Drawn 1-1 (3) England in India Test Series 2008/09 India 1-0 (2) England in India Test Series 2012/13 England 2-1 (4) England in India Test Series 2016/17 India 4-0 (5) Anthony de Mello Trophy (England in India) 2020/21 India 3-1 (4) Anthony de Mello Trophy (England in India) 2023/24 India 4-1 (5) India vs England Head-to-Head stats in ODIs India and England have competed in 110 One Day Internationals (ODIs). Of these encounters, India has emerged victorious in 61 matches, while England has won 44 times. Additionally, 3 games ended with no result, and 2 matches concluded in a tie. IND vs ENG in ODIs Team Matches Won Total Matches 110 England Wins 44 India Wins 61 Drawn 2 No result 3 India vs England Head-to-Head stats in T20Is India and England have played each other in 29 T20 matches. Out of these, India has secured 17 wins, while England has emerged victorious in 12 games. IND vs ENG in T20Is Team Matches Won Total Matches 29 England Wins 12 India Wins 17 Drawn 0 No result 0