Unfortunately during his peak years the Second World War intervened when all international cricket came to a stop and Hazare could not display his smooth artistry in Tests in India or abroad. His best of the superlative efforts came in late thirties or early forties in the Ranji Trophy and Bombay Pentangular matches when the score-board would bulge to straining limits.
His concentration and copy-book skill helped him twice to cross the 300 mark in home cricket. Playing for Maharashtra against Baroda in the 1939 season he knocked up an unbeaten 316 with monumental grit and doggedness in a manner which pleased the Guru of the Maharashtra, Professor Deodhar.
In the Pentangular of 1943 playing against a strong combination of the Hindus he hit 309 for the Rest in his side's total of 387. Hazare's other ten team-mates just contributed 59 runs in which there were 19 centuries.
V.M. Merchant had set a record of the highest individual score of 243 in the Pentangular of 1941 while playing against the Muslims. In 1943 Hazare eclipsed the milestone of Merchant with a flawless 248 against the Muslims, bettering it later with 309, an innings that satisfied the purists and the multitude at the Brahourne Stadium of Boundary for its stubborness at a dire situation when the Hindus had hit up 581 and the ease with which he flayed the loose balls.
However, perhaps the proudest of his efforts is the world record he holds with Gul Muhammad for the fourth wicket. This was the 577 made against Halkar in the 1946-47 Rangi Trophy fixture while representing Baroda. The mark stays till this day despite many endeavours to surpass it.
In Test cricket, in which he made his debut at the age of 31, Hazare was known as a batsmen with courage and boldness in the face of adversity. In the first knock of the fourth Test at Adelaide in 1948 India was reeling at 69 for three when Hazare came. Soon two wickets fell and the score was 133 for 5. Without being unnerved he went on his confident way and along with Phadkar took the score to 321, his own contribution being 116. In the same Test he hit a century in each innings against 'Bradman's Invincibles', a feat recorded for the first time by an Indian. Bradman had done the same - a record that had eluded him during his illustrious career.
In the next series against the West Indies at Bombay India had followed on against a Caribbean total of 629 for six declared with defeat staring them in the face. Two wickets had gone for 33 when Hazare came to take up the fight with a technical refinement that none could have emulated. With unmistakable look of class he, along with Rusi Modi, faced the Caribbean attack with assurance to deprive them of a certain victory, Hazare's own score was 122.
On England's trip to India two masters of batting technique, Hazare and Merchant, hit centuries at Delhi in the first Test of 1951. He again recorded three figures in the next Test in Bombay.
Came the inaugural series against Pakistan in 1952-53. Hazare's 76 helped India reach a total of 372. Pakistan was beaten by an innings at New Delhi though the visitors retaliated with an innings win when Hazare was unavailable for the second Test at Lucknow. In the third Test, won by India by 10 wickets, Hazare contributed a watchful, though polished, unbeaten 146.
Hazare was also an intelligent bowler. Having been coached by the renowned Australian spinner Clarrie Grimmett for a period, Hazare, though a medium pacer with inswing and outswing at his disposal would surprise the batsmen with off-break and leg-spin as well. During the Australian tour of 1947-48 he twice hypnotised the great Bradman, and once for only13 runs. He usually took the wicket when the batsmen had settled and tried to force the pace.
Hazare, though a short man, was an alert fielder in the slip. At other spots too his swiftness was admirable. A true gentleman he was always reticent and rarely entered into conversation, unless spoken to. Those who have seen him play in the Tests, the Ranji Trophy and the Bombay Pentangular would have been saddened by his demise at the age of 89.