Former Baroda stalwart and India ODI player Jacob Martin finds himself in hot water after a drunk driving accident near Akota Dandia Bazar Bridge. His MG Hector plowed into two-three vehicles, creating pandemonium before police intervened and confirmed his intoxication via tests.
The 53-year-old’s arrest has left fans stunned, given his stature in local cricket. From 1999-2001, he played 10 ODIs for India, scoring 158 runs unbeaten once, top score 39. Domestically, excellence defined him: 138 FC matches brought 9,192 runs (23 centuries, 47 fifties, 271 best); 101 List A games yielded 2,948 runs (3 tons, 20 fifties).
Hanging up boots in 2007, Martin embraced coaching, leading Baroda’s U-19s and nurturing talent. Now, this arrest looms as a career setback, with potential bans from coaching roles.
Details emerge of the frantic scene: screeching tires, crunching metal, and a star athlete handcuffed. Akota police are probing further, possibly checking for priors.
In broader context, India’s road safety campaigns gain urgency with this high-profile case. Martin’s predicament warns of the steep price of impaired driving—legal woes, reputational damage, and personal regret. The cricket world watches as justice unfolds.