*NEW DELHI – Ajit Wadekar, the man who led India to their first seriestriumphs in England and the West Indies, died on Wednesday at the age of77, the Press Trust of India reported.*

Wadekar died at a hospital in Mumbai after battling a prolonged illness,the news agency said.

The former batsman, who led India to victories in England and the WestIndies in 1971, scored 2,113 runs in just 37 Test matches, including onecentury.

Tributes poured in on social media for Wadekar, with Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi hailing him as “a great batsman & wonderful captain”.

“He led our team to some of the most memorable victories in our cricketinghistory”, Modi tweeted.

India coach Ravi Shastri also paid tribute, tweeting a photo of Wadekarduring his heyday as a cricketer.

“Sad moment for Indian cricket to lose one of its most successful captains.Shrewd to the core. Condolences to the entire family #TeamIndia#RIPAjitWadekar,” Shastri tweeted.

In addition to his Test triumphs, Wadekar also served as India’s first ODIcaptain and as manager of the team during Mohammad Azharuddin’s tenure ascaptain in the 1990s.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hailed his multifacetedcareer, which also included a stint as the chairman of selectors.

“With heavy heart, we bid adieu to Ajit Wadekar. The former India captainis no more. Cricketer, Coach, Manager and Chairman of Selectors – MrWadekar served Indian cricket in many different ways,” the BCCI wrote onTwitter. – APP/AFP