Renowned writer and veteran cricket commentator Dwarkanath Sanzgiri has passed away at the age of 74 at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, following a prolonged illness.
Sanzgiri made significant contributions as a columnist, author, television presenter, and music program host throughout his nearly 50-year career, writing for a wide range of magazines and newspapers. His columns were primarily in Marathi, but he also wrote in English and various other regional languages.
The news of his demise was shared on X by Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut, who paid tribute to Sanzgiri. Raut’s post included a heartfelt message in Marathi, which read: “My friend, the passing of Dwarkanath Sanzgiri, who wrote brilliantly on both cricket and cinema, is shocking. He was a well-known columnist for Dainik Saamana. The sports world has suffered a significant loss. I and the Saamana family share in the grief of his family.”
Born on November 15, 1950, in Mumbai’s Hindu Colony, Sanzgiri was educated at King George School and Ram Narayan Ruia College, eventually pursuing civil engineering at VJTI, Matunga. He led a dual career as an engineer and a writer, retiring in 2008 as the Chief Engineer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Water Supply Project.
Sanzgiri’s literary journey began in the late 1970s with contributions to magazines such as ‘Dinank’ and ‘Shri.’ After India’s 1983 World Cup victory, he co-founded the sports magazine ‘Ech Shatkar,’ where he served as executive editor. His engaging sports articles and travelogues were published in various outlets, including ‘Loksatta,’ ‘Aaj Dati,’ and ‘Mid-Day.’
Throughout his career, he reported on all One Day International Cricket World Cups since 1983 and authored 40 books covering sports, travel, and social issues. In addition, Sanzgiri hosted over a thousand one-man stand-up shows, presented the sports program ‘Bollandaji,’ and frequently appeared as a cricket analyst on television.