[1][2] Sardesai grew up in a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin family[3] of Margao, a town in the erstwhile Portuguese India (in the present-day Indian State of Goa).

Sardesai made the playing XI, thus making his first-class debut, against Pakistan in Pune in November 1960.

[8] In his next game, playing for Board President's XI against the same Pakistan side prior to the Fourth Test of the tour, he scored an unbeaten century (106 in 260 minutes),[9][5] putting together a 134-run stand with Vijay Mehra for the third wicket.

[11] In his debut innings Sardesai made 28 before he was out hit wicket while trying to late-cut spinner Tony Lock through the vacant slip region to the third man boundary.

He was captain Nari Contractor's opening partner in a tour game against Barbados that saw the former hit on the head by a Charlie Griffith delivery after Sardesai had lost his wicket.

Against New Zealand in 1964–65, Sardesai scored a double century at Bombay and a very fast hundred that set up a win at Delhi.

He played against West Indies in 1966–67, and then toured England in 1967, where he injured himself on a staircase in the pavilion at Lord's and missed the First Test at Headingley.

It was India's first victory over West Indies in a series and Vijay Merchant, the chairman of selectors, called Sardesai the "renaissance man of Indian cricket".

Sardesai played for Bombay in the Ranji Trophy in 13 seasons, between 1961 and 1973,[15] including 10 finals, and never finished on the losing side.

[17] Sardesai first met Nandini Pant (born c. 1945)[18] in Mumbai's Berry's restaurant when she was holidaying in the city after her exams.

[18][19] Pant worked as a sociology professor for 35 years and later as member of the Central Board of Film Certification till 2015.

One of Dilip's daughters, Shonali, is a senior social scientist with the World Bank in Washington, D.C.[27] After retirement from cricket, Sardesai would split his time between his residences in Mumbai and Goa.

[33] It is presented to achievers among Goan sportspersons who represented India at any international-level sports competition during the preceding year.