Name Hindi: फारुख इंजीनियर / Gender Man
Farokh Engineer: A Luminary in the World of Cricket
A charismatic personality and a powerful sportsman, Farokh Engineer remains an unforgettable name in the world of cricket. Born on February 25, 1938 in Bombay, India, Engineer’s sporting prowess carved a niche for him right from his childhood.
Early Life and Career
Engineer was educated at Don Bosco High School, Matunga where he displayed his appetite for cricket. He represented his school and college teams before he got selected to play for Parsi Cyclists in Indian first-class cricket.
His magnificent performance led him towards being noticed by selectors who chose him to represent India in international cricket. His debut test match against England made noticeable waves which only grew over time.
A Successful International Career
From 1961 to 1975, Farokh Engineer played as wicket-keeper-batsman for India and was known for his robust style behind stumps along with aggressive smashes on field. Not easy to forget is his remarkable innings wherein he scored a powerful grenade-like century off just 46 balls during a semi-final game.
He played 46 Test matches for India scoring roughly 2611 runs.
This included two hundred scores and sixteen fifties while being instrumental behind the stumps accounting for 66 catches and 16 stumpings.
- Highest Score: Farokh’s top score of 121 came against West Indies at Chennai (then Madras) in January 1967.
- Pioneer Gloveman: Farokh also has the rare honour of being one among only three wicket-keepers from India to have scored more than 2000 runs.
County Cricket for Lancashire
In addition to playing cricket for India, Engineer was also a headline name in English county cricket. He signed up with Lancashire County Cricket Club, producing several commendable performances that only amplified his reputation.
His time at Lancashire saw him scoring over 5000 runs, often providing critical top order batting contribution along with reliable glove work.
He is still fondly remembered by Lancashire fans and remains associated with the club as an ambassador.
Life Beyond The Wickets
Apart from his decorated career on field, Farokh’s off-field character always caught attention due to his candid nature and distinctive charm. His vivacious persona made him popular among crowds, and he continues to remain actively involved in media circles talking about cricket even after retirement. Currently residing in Manchester, England; Engineer is frequently seen during test matches sharing expert opinion or reminiscing some cricketing tales incidentally peppering them with humor.
This dynamic cricketer, agile behind stumps and aggressive with willow definitely occupies a place of pride in annals of Indian cricket history.
