Eknath Dhondu Solkar (1948–2005) was an Indian cricketer who represented the India national cricket team during the late 1960s and 1970s. A left-handed batsman and left-arm medium-pace and orthodox spin bowler, Solkar was particularly renowned as one of the finest close-in fielders of his era, especially at forward short leg, where he formed an integral part of India's celebrated spin-supported fielding cordon.
| Full name | Eknath Dhondu Solkar |
|---|---|
| Born | 1948 |
| Died | 2005 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | All-rounder; specialist close-in fielder |
| Batting | Left-handed |
| Bowling | Left-arm medium / slow left-arm orthodox |
| Domestic team | Bombay |
| International career | Late 1960s – 1970s |
Solkar came from a modest background in Bombay (now Mumbai) and rose through the city's competitive club and Ranji Trophy cricket structure. He represented Bombay in the Ranji Trophy during a period when the side dominated Indian domestic cricket, contributing to several title-winning campaigns.
Solkar played Test cricket for India during a transformative period for the team. He was part of the Indian sides that achieved landmark series victories in the West Indies and in England in 1971 under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar. In these series, his ability to take catches at very short distances off the bowling of the famed Indian spin quartet — Bishan Singh Bedi, B. S. Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan — proved decisive on multiple occasions.
As a batsman, Solkar was capable of providing useful contributions in the lower middle order, while his left-arm bowling was often used to take the new ball, an unusual responsibility for a player primarily known as an all-rounder and fielder.
Solkar is widely regarded as among the greatest forward short-leg fielders in the history of Test cricket. His fielding contributions are credited with materially enhancing the effectiveness of India's spin attack during the early 1970s, a period considered a golden age of Indian spin bowling. He remains an important figure in the narrative of India's overseas Test successes of that decade.
After retiring from first-class cricket, Solkar remained associated with the game in Mumbai through coaching and club cricket. He died in 2005.