In the light of the brilliant start to his Test career - he made an unbeaten 100 in his first innings - Kripal Singh's final Test figures are a disappointment. That was his only Test hundred and he had only two half-centuries. The fact remains that he was in and out of the team, even though his career lasted almost a decade. A fluent stroke playing batsman, an offbreak bowler of considerable repute and a splendid field, particularly at slip, Kripal seemed destined for big things especially after he had played a leading role in Madras winning the Ranji Trophy for the first time in 1954-55, scoring 636 runs (106.00) including his career best 208 against Travancore Cochin. In the next innings following his Test century he got 63 but his only other half century came against West Indies at Madras in 1958-59 when he got a gallant 53. He toured England in 1959 and his tally for the tour was 879 runs (33.80). One of his innings, 178 against Lancashire was considered among the best batting displays of the summer. In the only Test he played, he scored 41 in the second innings, adding 89 runs for the fifth wicket with Vijay Manjrekar. He was however a forgotten man until he was brought back in 1961-62 against England when he played three Tests. He played in two more Tests against England in 1963-64 but by the time he played his last Test against Australia the following season he was already over the hill. A shrewd captain of his state team and the zonal (South Zone) side, Kripal was a tower of strength with his allround skills for more than a decade. In the Ranji Trophy, he scored 2581 runs (49.63) and took 115 wickets (20.53). He died suddenly following a heart attack at the age of 54.
Partab Ramchand