D. J. Gokulakrishnan

Jayaraman Gokulakrishnan (4 January 1973 – 11 October 2023), better known as D. J. Gokulakrishnan, was an Indian first-class cricketer who represented Tamil Nadu, Goa and Assam. In a domestic career spanning 12 years, he scored over 1,000 runs and took over 100 wickets. He also served as a coach, and a match referee post his retirement.

D. J. Gokulakrishnan
Personal information
Full name
Jayaraman Gokulakrishnan
Born(1973-01-04)4 January 1973
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Died11 October 2023(2023-10-11) (aged 50)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleBowling all-rounder
RelationsJayaraman Madanagopal (brother)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1993/94–2003/04Tamil Nadu
1996/97–1997/98Goa
2001/02Assam
Career statistics
Competition FC List A
Matches 39 45
Runs scored 1,116 552
Batting average 24.26 25.09
100s/50s 1/4 0/2
Top score 104* 64*
Balls bowled 6,703 2,170
Wickets 103 71
Bowling average 27.34 20.91
5 wickets in innings 4 1
10 wickets in match 1 n/a
Best bowling 7/54 5/55
Catches/stumpings 33/– 11/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 1 March 2016

Biography

Gokulakrishnan was born on 4 January 1973 in Madras, present day Chennai, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.[1]

As a right-arm medium pace bowler who batted right-handed in the lower-middle order, Gokulakrishnan made 39 first-class and 45 List A appearances between the 1993/94 and 2003/04 seasons. He mainly played for his home state Tamil Nadu and South Zone, but also played for Goa for two seasons and Assam for one season. He made 1116 runs at an average of 24.26 and took 103 wickets in his first-class career. He had a successful List A career as well, taking 71 wickets averaging 20.91 per wicket and scoring 552 runs at a 25.09 average.[2] He ended his career with four five-wicket hauls, and scored a hundred and four fifties.[3] During his playing career, he briefly ran into issues with officials regarding his bowling action. He went on to the MRF Pace Foundation and briefly trained under Dennis Lillee to get back to the team.[3]

Gokulakrishnan became a cricket coach after retirement. In 2008, he was made the assistant coach of the Tamil Nadu Ranji team.[4] He was appointed the team's bowling coach in 2010 after Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) decided to do away with head and assistant coaches for the senior team.[5] He returned as the team's assistant coach in 2013 before the TNCA made him head coach of the Tamil Nadu under-19 team in 2015.[6] He had also worked as the business development manager of IC Infotech (India Cements Group).[7] He also served as a match referee with the BCCI serving domestic tournaments including Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the Tamil Nadu Premier League.[3]

Gokulakrishnan was also associated with the Chennai Super Kings for five seasons of the Indian Premier League as a talent scout and member of their coaching staff.[8]

Gokulakrishnan's brother J. Madanagopal was also a Tamil Nadu state cricket coach and a talent scout.[9] D. J. Gokulakrishnan died in Chennai on 11 October 2023, at age 50, following a heart attack.[10]

References
  1. "Jayaraman Gokulakrishnan Profile – Cricket Player India | Stats, Records, Video". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  2. "Jayaraman Gokulakrishnan". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  3. Venkatesan, S. Prasanna (11 October 2023). "Former Tamil Nadu player and BCCI match referee D.J. Gokulakrishnan passes away". Sportstar. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. "Raman to continue as Tamil Nadu coach". ESPNcricinfo. 12 July 2008. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  5. "Tamil Nadu appoints three specialist coaches". ESPNcricinfo. 4 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  6. "TN Keep Coach Call Pending". The New Indian Express. 5 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  7. Thomas, Annie (18 December 2005). "Now an anti-dote for fake tickets". DNA India. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  8. Staff, CricTracker (12 October 2023). "CSK mourn sudden demise of former Tamil Nadu coach and BCCI referee DJ Gokulakrishnan". CricTracker. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  9. "Madanagopal named Thoothukudi coach". The Times of India. 15 July 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  10. Venkatesan, S. Prasanna (11 October 2023). "Former Tamil Nadu player and BCCI match referee D.J. Gokulakrishnan passes away". Sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
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