Name Hindi: पंकज रॉय / Gender Man
Life and Career of Pankaj Roy
Born on May 31, 1928, Pankaj Roy was an acclaimed cricketer from India who left crumbs in this sport that are still appreciated by fans. He is best remembered for his outstanding cricketing career during the years he represented India at various levels of international competition.
Roy left a significant impression on cricket during his playing days and earned acclaim as one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket history.
Early Life and Introduction to Cricket
Roy grew up in Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, a city known to have produced legions of big names in Indian sports including footballers and cricketers alike. Raised in a family where two generations had played cricket before him; not surprisingly, he soon developed an interest in the sport.
This legendary right-handed opening batsman began his first-class debut playing for Bengal against Bihar-Orrissa Joint team on November 24, 1946.
The National Journey
A Promising Beginning
Roy made his Test match debut against England at Headingley on June 5th, 1952. It wasn’t a memorable beginning to his career due to poor performance; however, despite the early setback, he didn’t let it hinder his passion for the sport.
Glorious Years with Vijay Manjrekar: Record-breaking Partnership
In January 1956, during the series between India vs New Zealand, a great saga took place when both Pankaj Roy & Vijay Manjrekar recorded a world record unbroken partnership for any wicket-413 runs for 1st-in Tests beaten only by May & Cowdrey in 1957-58. That record stood for over half a century.
The Legacy
Roy captained Indian cricket team in one test match and later retired from international cricket in 1960 after representing India in the series against Australia. post his playing years, he served as an administrator with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) continuing to contribute extensively to the sport.
- Total Career Matches: He played a total of 43 Test matches between 1951/52 – 1960/61 career.
- Career Runs: Roy scored10 hundreds, five fifties & plunged about 2442 runs at an average of 32.5.
- Highest Score: His Highest score was an impressive 173 against England; this was also areminder of how truly great Pankaj’s form could be when he led India to victory during that time.
Pankaj Roy died on February 4th,2001 leaving behind a legacy that had indeed reprised those ‘Golden moments’ back again reminding the sportsperson around the world about their responsibility towards their respective sports through commitment, dedication & passion.
Awards and Acknowledgements
In honour of his excellent performance in cricket, Pankaj Roy was awarded two honours:
- The Padma Shri award in 1973
- The C.K Nayudu Lifetime achievement award presented by BCCI, in recognition for his significant contribution to Indian cricket.
a Tribute to a Legend
Amid the pantheon of cricketing greats, Pankaj Roy stands out as an illustrious player who played the game with grit and determination. Despite not having many resources in his early days, he showed that where there is resilience & commitment, no obstacle can hinder success. His efforts will always remain instrumental in raising Indian Cricket’s prestige to new heights.
His unflinching passion for cricket, combined with a keen sense of duty to his team, enabled him to forge ahead even when times were tough. As we reminisce about his contributions, Pankaj Roy continues to hear echoes of applause from fans worldwide, admiring his gleaming career.
