Colonel Hemchandra "Hemu" Ramachandra Adhikari pronunciationⓘ (31 July 1919 – 25 October 2003) was an Indian cricketer, representing his country both as a player and a coach in a career that spanned three decades.
[1] A talented right-handed batsman and occasional leg spin bowler, Adhikari made his first-class cricket debut as a teenager before the outbreak of World War II in the 1936/37 domestic season.
Adhikari made his Test debut as a 28-year-old in 1947 on India's tour of Australia and immediately established himself as an important member of the squad, although his continued official role in the army restricted his availability for the team.
He captained India in one Test as he neared his fortieth birthday, scoring 63 and 40 while batting and taking three important wickets in a drawn game against the West Indies.
He helped guide India to their first series win in England in 1971 and was a major reason behind the development of such outstanding cricketers as Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri.