| Personal information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batting style | Right-hand bat | |||
| Bowling style | - | |||
| Career statistics | ||||
| Competition | Tests | ODIs | ||
| Matches | 3 | 2 | ||
| Runs scored | 141 | 38 | ||
| Batting average | 23.50 | 19.00 | ||
| 100s/50s | -/1 | -/- | ||
| Top score | 77 | 20 | ||
| Balls bowled | - | - | ||
| Wickets | - | - | ||
| Bowling average | - | - | ||
| 5 wickets in innings | - | - | ||
| 10 wickets in match | - | n/a | ||
| Best bowling | - | - | ||
| Catches/stumpings | -/- | -/- | ||
| Source: [1], 4 February 2006 | ||||
Sudhir Sakharam Naik (born February 21, 1945, Mumbai, Maharashtra) is a former Indian cricketer who played in 3 Tests and 2 ODIs in 1974 in the Indian cricket team. A courageous right-hand opening batsman, Sudhir Naik went as one of the candidates for the opening batsman's slot on the 1974 tour of England. He did well in the first-class matches, scoring 730 runs (40.55) and forced his way into the team for the final Test at Edgbaston. Out for 4 in the first innings, Naik batted in gritty fashion in a losing cause in the second innings to top-score with 77. Back home he played in two more Tests against West Indies but after scores of 48, 6, 0, 6 was discarded for good.
For Bombay, however, Naik did very well and in the Ranji Trophy he scored 2687 runs (40.10) with a highest score of 200 not out against Baroda in 1973-74. But perhaps Naik's biggest distinction was that he led Bombay to an unexpected Ranji Trophy triumph in 1970-71. It was a badly depleted side with the stars being away with the Indian team in the West Indies. But Naik making adroit use of the limited resources proved himself to be an astute captain.
He has a much extensive and impressive career in the domestic Indian cricket in varied capacities of cricketer, coach and ground-curator.
He started his career by playing for Mumbai University and later went on to captain the Tata Oil Mills team where he was an employee. He is a rare combination of a cricketer and an organic chemist with first class in M Sc in Organic Chemistry from Ruparel College in Mumbai.
Beside playing for India, he also captained Mumbai cricket team in the Ranji Trophy for several years. He remains active in the game as the coach at his own National Cricket Club, Mumbai which has produced star cricketers for India like Zaheer Khan and Wasim Jaffer and many like Rajesh Pawar, Raju Sutar and Paras Mhambrey who are pastd and present players for Mumbai.
Since 2005 he has an added responsibility on his shoulders. He is the Ground Incharge at the Wankhede Cricket Stadium taking care of the wicket and the outfield, in preparation for cricket matches.