5 performances by Ranjitsinhji that will make every Indian Cricket fan proud

Ranjitsinhji, after whom the Ranji Trophy is named, was one of the greatest batsmen of the era.

Kumar Shree Ranjitsinhji, famously known as Ranji, was born on 10th September 1872 in the state of Nawanagar in the western Indian province of Kathiawar. Born in the princely family, 16-year old Prince Ranjitsinhji was sent to Cambridge University, London for further studies and since then he ruled the game of cricket.

The scarcity of cricket in those days and Ranji’s ill-health eventually shortened the career of the great oriental batsman which consisted of only 15 Test matches. Ranji, however, played a great deal of first-class cricket in England and became a Sussex stalwart. In 307 first-class matches, he amassed 24,692 runs at an average of 56.37 with 72 centuries.

In the span of Ranji’s 25 years as an active cricketer, he went on to produce a number of stupendous performances which made the Englishmen fall in love with this batting giant. Here are five such anecdotes which prove why Ranjitsinhji was such as great batsman.

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#1 The magical Test debut

In his first-class debut for Sussex in 1895, Ranji scored 77 and a brilliant 150 alongside seven wickets with off-spin bowling. The performance gained him instant fame and later he also became the fourth highest run-getter of the season.With the arrival of the Australian team in England for the Test series in 1896, there were hopes of seeing the colored man play Test cricket for England.

Selector Lord Harris, however, was dismissive of Ranji and refused to select him for the first Test at the Lord’s.The second Test was scheduled at the Old Trafford, and the team would now be chosen by the Lancashire selection committee. Impressed by Ranji’s talent, they handed him the Test debut.

After a cautious 62 in the first innings, Ranji scored 154 not out in the second innings (England following on) where the next highest score in the team was mere 19. Although the team went on to lose the match, the innings displayed what the legend was truly capable of.

#2 Answering Australian critics with style

Ranji scored a brilliant 175 despite falling ill in Australia

Earlier, Ranji had expressed doubts on the legality of Australia’s fast bowler Ernie Jones' bowling action. The Australian public and media thus accused Ranji of cowardice and claimed Ranji’s lack of courage to be the reason for him missing out from the first Test.

In 1897, Ranji was chosen in England’s team that toured Australia for a five-match Test series. The Indian Prince was disturbed by the bout of asthma and despite his stellar performances against Australian state teams, it became clear that he would miss the first Test.

However, the pouring rain postponed the beginning of the first Test at Sydney and Ranji decided to play in the match, despite his ill-health. Coming out to bat at number seven, Ranji scored a brilliant 175, then the highest score for England in Test cricket, leading England to a nine-wicket win. The spectacular innings included a severe treatment of the same Ernie Jones thus converting Australian critics into his proudest admirers.

#3 Standing tall against Australia

Ranji defied Australia with a courageous 93 on a difficult pitch

Australia chose to bat first in the three-day Test at Trent Bridge against England in their first Test of the 1899 tour. In reply to Australia’s 252, England were all out for 192 with Ranji scoring 42 runs. Australia subsequently declared with a lead of 290, enough on the damp pitch.

England wilted under pressure and soon found themselves at 19 for 4 with Ranji still batting. The Indian batsman stood tall against the Australian bowling and defied them for a full day to deny victory. Ranji remained not out on 93 and saved the match for England.

Later, Ranji named his 93 not out at Trent Bridge as his best innings. He rated it higher than his 154 on the debut since this knock came on a deteriorating track against a better bowling attack.

#4 Two first-class centuries in a day

Ranji with his famous Sussex companion C B Fry

In 1896, Ranji achieved an incredible distinction of scoring two first-class centuries in a day. This came while he was representing his county team Sussex against Yorkshire at Hove. Yorkshire batted on the first two days and scored 407 in their first innings.

In reply, Sussex was all-out for only 191 runs in their first innings. Ranji scored 100 and stitched an important 132 runs partnership with Billy Newham. Lord Hawke, Yorkshire captain, decided to impose the follow-on with a 216-run lead.

This time Sussex the openers fared better and Ranji walked out to bat at number three with the score at 61/1. Presenting ample account of his supple wrists and mesmerizing stroke play, Ranji added another century to his kitty with a masterful 125 not out, thus becoming the first (and so far only) batsman to score two first-class centuries in a single day. The effort also helped Sussex draw the match.

#5 The 10-minute wonder

Ranji struck 11 consecutive boundaries in his knock of 47

Before playing for Sussex and then ultimately for England, Ranji had already established his name in the English cricket circles with his unique batting style. One of the earliest evidences is his knock of 47 which came in only ten minutes.

In 1893, Ranji was batting for the gentlemen in their match against the players. The batsman began in exhilaration as he struck his first ball for a boundary. The next ball was also dispatched for a boundary and so was the third ball. The punishment did not stop there, Ranji struck as many as 11 consecutive boundaries in his first 11 balls. The 12th ball almost received the same treatment but it fetched only three runs. Ranji was out on the 14th ball thus ending an unbelievable innings of 47(13) in just 10 minutes.