Players live and
players die, but heroes live forever. Tributes and dedications to
some of the finest players in the field of cricket. Cricketers, you
wouldn't even guess were in the same field that is being observed by
you day and night. Glorious contributions which went unnoticed,
feats which went undescribed, records which went
unrecorded...
Lalchand Rajput
Born on December 18, 1961 at Bombay, Lalchand Rajput
by posting 94, 110 and 136 in the successive Ranji Trophy matches,
amassed 737 first-class runs at 40.94 and got a nod from the
selectors for the Test series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in
1985-86. He batted reasonably well at SSC, Colombo by scoring 32 and
61 in his first Test but a blob and 12 in his second Test at
Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo lost him his place.
First-class career
(1981 till date) 7,988 runs (ave.49.30) and 59 wickets (45.22) and
79 catches in 110 matches.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 2 |
4 |
- |
105 |
61 |
26.25 |
- |
1 | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
M.
Venkataramana
Born on April 24, 1966 at Secunderabad, Venkataramana was an
off-spinner with an excellent run-up, having a high action. He
represented Tamil Nadu in the 1987-88 season for the first time,
enabling them to win the Ranji Trophy by his performance of 35
wickets from eight matches, including 7 for 94 in the final. He made
his debut in Limited-Overs Internationals during the 1988-89 season,
claiming 2 for 36 off 10 overs against the visiting New Zealanders
at Baroda and two months later, made his Test debut against the West
Indies at Kingston, claiming a solitary wicket (Desmond Haynes) in
the second innings.
First-class career (1987 till date) 890 runs
(ave.13.48), 247 wickets (ave.29.63) 54 catches in 75 matches.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 70 |
58 |
1 |
58.00 |
1/10
| |
Manmohan
Sood
Born on July 6, 1939 at Lahore, Man Mohan Sood was a
right-handed batsman, whose sole Test appearance was against the
visiting Australians at Corporation Stadium, Madras in January 1960,
scoring 0 and 3.
First-class career (1956-1966) 1,214 runs
(ave.28.23) including 1 century.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
2 |
- |
3 |
3 |
1.50 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
Milind
Rege
Born on March 18, 1924 at Panvel, Madhusudan Rege was a
prolific opening batsman. His sole Test appearance was against the
West Indies in the fourth Test at Madras in January 1949, scoring 15
and 0. He held one catch.
First-class career
(1944-45) 2,348 runs (ave.37.26) including 6 centuries and 33
wickets (ave.42.96)
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
2 |
- |
15 |
15 |
7.50 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
M.S.Hardikar
Born on February 8, 1936 at Baroda, Manohar Hardikar was a
competent right-handed batsman and an occasional bowler of
medium-pace. He also bowled off-breaks occasionally. Hardikar made
his Test debut against the visiting West Indians at Brabourne
Stadium, Bombay in November 1958, taking his only Test wicket with
his third ball. Hardikar died on February 4,1995 at the age of 59.
First-class career (1955-68) 3,602 runs
(ave.45.59) including 8 centuries and 74 wickets (31.66
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 2 |
4 |
1 |
56 |
32 |
18.67 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 108 |
55 |
1 |
55.00 |
1/9
| |
Madhav
Mantri
Born on September 1, 1921 at
Nasik, Madhav Mantri is uncle of Sunil Gavaskar, former Indian
Cricket Captain. Mantri was a sound opener and an excellent
wicket-keeper, who toured UK in 1952. He was a consistent batsman in
the domestic cricket, his highest score being 200 for Bombay against
Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy Championship.in 1948-49. Making his
Test debut against the visiting Englishmen at Brarbourne Stadium,
Bombay in December 1951, Mantri opened with Pankaj Roy, scoring 39
and 7. He failed to make any impression in the remaining three Tests
against England at Headingley and Lord’s in 1952 and against
Pakistan at Dacca Stadium in 1954-55.
First Class Career
(1941-1968) 4,403 runs (33.86) including 7 centuries and 192
dismissals (136 catches and 56 stumpings) Test matches: Batting
Bowling M I N.O. Runs H.S. Ave. 100 50 Balls Runs Wkts. Ave. Best
4 8 1 67 39 9.57 - - - - - - -
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 4 |
8 |
1 |
67 |
39 |
9.57 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
Milkha
Singh
Born on December 31, 1941 at Madras, Milkha
Singh was a left-handed batsman of exceptional talent and an
occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler in the sixties. He made
his Test debut against the visiting Australians at Corporation
Stadium, Madras (along with Man Mohan Sood) in January 1960,
scoring 16 and 9. He got another opportunity at the Corporation
Stadium, Madras against Pakistan, scoring 18 followed by 35 at
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. His fourth and last Test match was
against the visiting Englishmen at Brabourne Stadium, Bombay in
November 1961. In the Ranji Trophy tournament, he amassed over
2000 runs, averaging over 40 runs an innings.
First Class Career
(1958-69) 4,324 runs (ave.35.44) including 8 centuries.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 4 |
6 |
- |
92 |
35 |
15.33 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 6 |
2 |
- |
|
0/2 | |
Parthasarthy Sharma
Born
on January 5, 1948 at Alwar, Parthasarthi Sharma was a
right-handed batsman. He was one of the most talented and
accomplished batsmen in domestic cricket. He got an opportunity to
play a Test match against the visiting West Indians at Feroz Shah
Kotla, Delhi, scoring 54 and 49. During India’s 1975-76 tour to
the West Indies, he performed quite well and averaged 43.50 but
was a flop in the Bridgetown Test, scoring 6 and 1. He regained
his place in the Test team with a beautiful hundred (111) at
Ahmedabad against the visiting Englishmen but in four Test innings
at Delhi and Calcutta, he could manage only 62 runs and after two
Indian losses, he was not picked again.
First Class Career
(1964-85): 8,614 runs (ave.39.15) including 18 centuries, 191
wickets (ave.24.49) and 146 dismissals. (144 catches and 2
stumpings.)
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 5 |
10 |
- |
187 |
54 |
18.70 |
- |
1 | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 24 |
8 |
- |
|
0/2
| |
Raman Lamba
Born
on January 2, 1960 at Meerut, Raman Lamba was called an
exceptionally committed and enthusiastic player, according to
Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. He had two triple centuries to his
credit - 320 for North Zone in the 1987-88 Duleep Trophy final and
312 for Delhi against Himachal Pradesh in 1994-95 Lamba made his
Test debut against the visiting Sri Lankans at Green Kanpur,
scoring 24 at No.3 in India’s first innings score of 676 for seven
wickets. In the Nagpur Test, he scored 53 as an opener followed by
24 and No.5 in the Cuttack Test. After a double failure (1 and 0)
against the visiting West Indians at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, he
was not considered thereafter. In a club match at the Bangabandhu
Stadium, Dhaka, in February 1998, Lamba was hit on the temple
while fielding without helmet at short leg. Due to an internal
haemorrhage, he died in a Dhaka Hospital on February 23, 1998 at
the age of 38.
First-class career (1978 to 1997-98): 8776
runs (ave.53.84), 6 wickets (ave.70.50), 60 catches in 121
matches.
First Class career
(1978- ):
7,379 runs (55.48)
including 27 centuries, 6 wickets (67.33) and 55 catches
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 4 |
5 |
- |
102 |
53 |
20.40 |
- |
1 | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
Ramnath
Parkar
Born on October 31, 1946 at Bombay, Ramnath
Parkar was an excellent stroke-player. As a right-handed batsman,
he used his feet very well. He was a superb cover point fielder.
Against the visiting Englishmen in 1972-73, he got the Test
opportunities at Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi (4 and 35) and Eden
Gardens, Calcutta (26 and 15). He remained in coma for more than
three years, after meeting with an accident. He died four months
back.
First
Class Career (1964-81): 4,455 runs (ave.33.75) including 8
centuries and one wicket (55.00)
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 2 |
4 |
- |
80 |
35 |
20.00 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
Rajinder
Pal
Born on November 18, 1937, Rajinder Pal was a
right-arm speedster, who performed exceptionally well in the Ranji
Trophy Competition. His solitary Test appearance was against the
visiting Englishmen at Bombay in 1963-64, scoring 3 and 3 not out,
claiming 0 for 22.
First Class career (1954-74): 1,072 runs
(ave.11.28) and 339 wickets (ave.21.88)
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
6.00 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 78 |
22 |
- |
- |
0/3 | |
Ramesh Saxena
Born
on September 20, 1944, Ramesh Saxena was an elegant stroke-maker.
As a right-handed batsman, he posted 113 against Southern Punjab
at the age of 16 on his debut in the Ranji Trophy Competition in
1960-61. He was an occasional leg-break bowler and an outstanding
cover fielder. On the 1967 Indian tour to England under the
captaincy of Nawab of Pataudi,jr. he made his debut in Test
cricket in the Headingley Test, scoring 9 and 16.
First-class career
(1960-82): 8,155 runs (ave.40.37) including 17 centuries and 33
wickets (ave.28.27) and 65 catches.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
2 |
- |
25 |
16 |
12.50 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 12 |
11 |
- |
- |
0/11 | |
Rakesh Sukhla
Born
on February 4,1948 at Kanpur, Rakesh Shukla was a right-arm
leg-break and googly bowler. He is best remembered for his brave
effort in the 1981-82 Ranji Trophy Final against Karnataka when
going at number nine with the score reading at 548 for 7, he
shared a ninth wicket partnership of 118 with Rajesh Peter,
enabling his team to win the match on the first innings. Shukla
made his Test debut against the visiting Sri Lankans at
Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Madras in September 1982 but he did
not get an opportunity to bat in both the innings of the Test. In
his only Test, he failed to take a wicket, conceding 70 runs off
20 overs. However, in the second innings, he claimed two wickets
for 82 runs off 27 overs.
First-Class career (1969-86): 3,798 runs
(ave.31.91) including 6 centuries, 295 wickets (ave.24.53) and 71
catches.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
0 |
- |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 294 |
152 |
2 |
76.00 |
2/82 | |
Sanjeev
Sharma
Born on August 25, 1965 at Delhi, Sanjeev
Sharma was a right-arm medium-pacer of average build, who could
swing the ball both ways with his smooth run-up. He first appeared
in Test cricket against the visiting New Zealanders at Lal Bahadur
Stadium, Hyderabad in December 1988. He remained not out at 18. In
the first innings, he bowled beautifully and claimed 3 wickets for
37 runs off 17 overs. In his second and last Test against England
at Lord’s in 1990, he scored 38 as a late order batsman in India’s
second innings score of 224 - the next highest being Azharuddin
with 37. He was quite expensive as a bowler, claiming 1 wicket for
122 off 33 overs followed by 2 for 75 off 15 overs in the second
innings.
First-Class Career (1983 till date): 2,157
runs (ave.42.29), 166 wickets (ave.36.06), 25 catches in 68
matches.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 2 |
3 |
1 |
56 |
38 |
28.00 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 414 |
247 |
6 |
41.17 |
3/37 | |
Sudhir Naik
Born
on February 21,1945 at Bombay, Sudhir Naik was a right-handed
batsman of sound technique, who was particularly strong on the leg
side. Sudhir made his Test debut against England at Edgbaston in
July 1974, scoring 4 and 77. In all, he amassed 730 runs at an
average of 40.55 on that tour. Against the visiting 1974-75 West
Indians, he scored 48 and 6 at Ferozshah Kotla, Delhi and 0 &
6 at Eden Gardens, Calcutta.
First Class career (1966-78): 4,376 runs
(ave.35.29) including 7 centuries and 42 catches.
Test
Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 3 |
6 |
- |
141 |
77 |
23.50 |
- |
1 | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 231 |
132 |
1 |
132.00 |
1/16 | |
Sadinand
Viswanath
Born on November 29, 1962 at Bangalore,
Sadanand Viswanath was a polished wicket-keeper, who would collect
the ball off the edge of the bat delicately. A right-handed
batsman, who used to open as well, Sadanand toured Sri Lanka and
Zimbabwe with Young India before displacing Syed Kirmani in the
Limited-Overs Internationals against the visiting Englishmen in
1984-85. He subsequently toured Australia for the World
Championship in which he kept well as India won the competition
comprehensively. Sadanand made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in
the first Test at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo in August
1995, scoring 20 and 0, effecting two catches. He played in the
remaining two Testsd at P.Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo and
Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy but couild not hold his place.
First Class Career
(1980-90): 3,158 runs (ave.30.66) including 1 century and 179
dismissals (145 catches + 34 stumpings).
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 3 |
5 |
- |
31 |
20 |
6.20 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
Gursharan Singh
Born
on March 8, 1963 at Amritsar, Gursharan Singh was an aggressive
right-handed batsman with powerful and exciting strokes besides an
outstanding fielder. He hit the headlines by posting an unbeaten
101 against Keith Fletcher’s 1981-82 England team. In the Ranji
Trophy final later on that season, he played a magnificent knock
of 101 in Delhi’s winning total of 707 for eight in response to
Karnataka’s 705. He made his Test debut against New Zealand at
Eden Park, Auckland in February,1990, scoring 18. He held 2
catches in the only Test he played. He is best remembered in Test
cricket by catching four in a match as substitute fielder (in
place of Roger Binny), including 3 in an innings in the 1983-84
Ahmedabad Test against West Indies.
First-class career (1981-till date): 5,719
runs (ave.43.32) including 14 centuries, 4 wickets (ave.30.00) and
105 catches.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
1 |
- |
18 |
18 |
18.00 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- | |
V.V.Kumar
Born
on June 22, 1935 at Madras, Vaman Kumar was a right-arm
leg-spinner with an exceptional talent. The critics called him the
best spinner in India but his prime period coincided with that of
Subhash Gupte and the advent of Bhagwat Chandrasekhar. He made his
debut in the Ranji Trophy Competition in 1955-56, claiming seven
wickets against Andhra and in each of five seasons, exceeding 25
wickets. In the Ranji Trophy competition during 1974-75, he became
the first bowler to capture 400 wickets. Kumar made his Test debut
against the visiting Pakistanis at Ferozeshah Kotla, New Delhi.
With his sixth ball in Test cricket, he produced a wicket, his
victim being Imtiaz. He claimed 5 for 64 in Pakistan’s first
innings and 2 for 68 in the second innings and brought India quite
close to victory. In his second and last Test at Brarbourne
Stadium, Bombay against England, he conceded 70 runs off 27 overs
without taking any wicket.
First-class career (1955-77) 673 runs
(ave.7.64) and 599 wickets (ave.19.98)
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 2 |
2 |
- |
6 |
6 |
3.00 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 605 |
202 |
7 |
28.86 |
5/64
| |
V.Rajdan
Born
on August 25, 1969 at Delhi, Vivek Razdan was one of the trainees
at the MRF Pace Academy. He was selected for the crucial Irani
Trophy match for the Rest of India against Delhi in 1989 on the
recommendations of former Australian fast bowler, Dennis Lillee.
With his beautiful outswingers, he claimed 3 for 113 and 2 for 75
in that match - his first-class match. He appeared in Test cricket
against Pakistan at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad in November 1989,
after two first-class matches. In Pakistan’s first innings of 423
for 9 wickets declared, he conceded 62 runs off 13 overs without
claiming any wicket. In his second and last Test match at Jinnah
Stadium, Sialkot in December 1989, he claimed 5 for 79 off 27
overs to become the most successful bowler in Pakistan’s innings
of 250.
First-class career: 700 runs (ave.25.00), 67
wickets (ave.33.79), 8 catches in 29 matches.
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 2 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
6.00 |
- |
| |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 240 |
141 |
5 |
28.20 |
5/79 | |
Yograj Singh
Born
on March 25, 1958 at Chandigarh, Yograj Singh was a right-arm
medium-fast bowler and a useful late-order batsman. Yograj got an
opportunity to play for Combined Universities against MCC at
Nagpur in 1976-77 but due to injury and poor form he could not
play for two years. He registered his career-best figures of 7 for
36 against J & K in 1979-80 and re-emerged to win a place on
the 1980-81 tour of Australia and New Zealand but it was a
disappointing tour for him as he could claim just 13 wickets in
seven first-class games. He made his Test debut along with Kirti
Azad and Ravi Shastri against New Zealand at Wellington, scoring 6
and 4 and claiming 1 for 63 off 15 overs in New Zealand’s first
innings of 375.
First-class career (1976-85): 398 runs
(ave.15.30) and 67 wickets (ave.26.22)
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
2 |
- |
10 |
6 |
5.00 |
- |
- | |
| Balls |
Runs |
Wkts. |
Ave. |
Best |
| 90 |
63 |
1 |
63.00 |
1/63 | |
Youvraj of
Patiala
Born on January 17,1913 at Patiala, Yuvraj of
Patiala was a stylish right-handed batsman, who was invited to
tour England in 1932 but he declined due to the state business. He
made his Test debut against visiting Englishmen at Madras in
1933-34, scoring 24 and 60. He held two catches. He was India’s
Ambassador to Holland from 1971 until his death on June 17,1974 at
The Hague, Holland.
First Class career (1931-58): 1,602 runs
(ave.20.80) including 2 centuries and 48 wickets (ave.31.93)
Test Matches:
|
Batting |
Bowling |
| M |
I |
NO |
R |
HS |
Ave. |
100's |
50's |
| 1 |
2 |
- |
84 |
60 |
42.00 |
- |
- | |
|
