Polly Umrigar: A man who excelled in records

Mumbai, Nov 7 (UNI) Polly Umrigar, one of the all time greats of Indian cricket, was a heroic figure for India as well as fans from abroad from the late forties to the early sixties, almost always shining in a losing cause.

Despite this, when he retired, he held the most important records for India -- most Tests, most runs, most hundreds. In fact, his records stood from 1962 to 1978 when they were broken by Sunil Gavaskar.

A burly six footer, Umrigar was a commanding figure at the crease -- whether batting, bowling, directing operations as captain or standing in his usual position at first slip. Umrigar excelled in full blooded drives but he could also hook and pull powerfully.

As a bowler, he was an accurate off-spinner and could even open the bowling, sending down outswingers. He was also a brilliant versatile fielder.

Either as batsman, bowler or captain, he helped shape the few Indian triumphs of his time. For 30 years, he held the record of getting the highest score by an Indian on tour -- 252 not out against Cambridge University in 1959. As a bowler, his finest hour was when he took four for 27 while helping India to defeat mighty Australia at Kanpur in 1959.

A shrewd captain, he led India in eight Tests, winning two and losing two before he resigned the captaincy at Madras against West Indies in 1959 following a misunderstanding with the selectors. He is only one of two Indian cricketers (Vinoo Mankad being the other) to score a century and take five wickets in an innings -- a feat he achieved against West Indies at Port of Spain in 1962.

Umrigar was also the first Indian to hit a Test double century.

After retirement, he continued to serve Indian cricket as chairman of the selection committee, tour manager and BCCI executive secretary.

Umrigar was born on March 28, 1926 at Solapur in Maharashtra as Pahlan Ratanji Umrigar and made his first class debut in 1944. He made his Test debut four years later against the West Indies at Mumbai and his 59th and last Test was also against West Indies at Kingston in 1962. He retired from first class cricket a year later in 1963.

He played a total of 59 Tests scoring 3631 runs with a best of 223 and inclusive of 12 centuries at an average of 42.22, while in bowling he took 35 wickets with a best bowling figures of six for 74 at an average of 42.08.

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