Name Hindi: गुलाबराय रामचंद / Gender Man
Gulabrai Ramchand
Born on July 26, 1927, in Karachi, Gulabrai ‘Ram’ Ramchand was a notable figure in the domain of cricket. He represented India primarily during the late 1950s and early 60’s earning recognition for his all-round performance as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.
Early Life and Cricket Career
Ramchand commenced his cricket career playing initially at club level. His first-class debut happened when he was just eighteen years old, representing Sind against Western India in the Ranji Trophy at Ahmedabad in December 1945. Before relocating to Mumbai after partition, he also played for Karachi in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
National Team Selection
In the year 1952, Ramchand went on to be selected for the national team where he made his test debut against Pakistan at Lucknow. His zeal towards cricket fetched him respect amongst peers and coaches alike due to which he played consistently as part of Indian squads over the next decade.
Captaincy and Notable Performances
Gulabrai Ramchand took up captainship of the Indian Cricket Team during an important phase – The Indian tour of England. Despite not having led any other side before this campaign or thereafter, his leadership brought about admirable results for the team. A highlight under his captaincy was historic victory over Australia at Kanpur in December 1959 – one that marked India’s first-ever win against Australia.
- During this historic match, Ramchand starring with solid innings scored impressive half-century marking invaluable contribution towards final score.
- As a bowler, his best performance is remembered as against England in 1952 where he took outstanding figures of five for 49 at Leeds taking key wickets with stretched opposition on backfoot.
Career Statistics and Retirement
Gulabrai Ramchand ended his career with quite respectable stats including an average of almost 25 with the bat and around 35 with the ball. In total, he had played 33 Test matches bagging two centuries and crossing the fifty-run mark ten times.
Ramchand announced his retirement from cricket in January 1964 after playing his last test against England at Madras. Indeed he left behind a legacy that followers of Indian cricket would look upon for years to come.
Post-retirement and Legacy
Even off-field, Ramchand made significant contributions to the game by serving as vice-president of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). The esteemed cricketer passed away on September 8th, 2003 leaving a void in Indian cricket fraternity that still remember him fondly for contributions both as player and promoter of this sport.
