Full name Pahlan Ratanji Umrigar
Born March 28, 1926, Sholapur, Maharashtra
Died November 7, 2006, Mumbai (aged 80 years 224 days)
Major teams India, Gujarat, Mumbai, Parsees
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 59 | 94 | 8 | 3631 | 223 | 42.22 | 12 | 14 | 33 | 0 |
First-class | 243 | 350 | 41 | 16155 | 252* | 52.28 | 49 | 80 | 217 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 59 | 50 | 4725 | 1473 | 35 | 6/74 | 6/74 | 42.08 | 1.87 | 135.0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
First-class | 243 | 25297 | 8348 | 325 | 7/32 | 25.68 | 1.97 | 77.8 | 14 | 2 |
Test debut | India v West Indies at Mumbai (BS), Dec 9-13, 1948 scorecard |
Last Test | West Indies v India at Kingston, Apr 13-18, 1962 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
First-class span | 1944/45 - 1962/63 |
One of the all time greats of Indian cricket, Polly Umrigar was a heroic figure 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 - most Tests, most runs, most hundreds. In fact his records stood from 1962 to 1978 when they were broken by a certain 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 offspinner and could even open the bowling, sending down outswingers. He was a brilliant versatile fielder.