Name Hindi: पोली उमरीगर / Gender Man
Polly Umrigar: A Legend of Indian Cricket
Pahlan Ratanji “Polly” Umrigar was a highly respected and accomplished cricketer who left his mark on the sport both nationally and internationally. He had an illustrious cricketing career during which he represented India at numerous international events, earning not only fame but also immense respect for his talent, devotion to game, and unflagging sportsmanship.
Early Life
Born in Shapur, Gujarat in 1926, Polly Umrigar came from a middle-class Parsi family. His passion for cricket began at a tender age when he started playing street cricket with friends. Despite hailing from a non-sporting background, young Umrigar made considerable strides due to his sheer determination and love for the game. It was here that he continually honed his skills and eventually went on to become one of the significant figures in Indian cricket.
Cricket Career
Umrigar’s first breakthrough in domestic cricket came when he started playing for Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1947. However, it wasn’t until December 1948 that he got the chance to make his Test debut against West Indies which launched him into mainstream cricket. During his career spanning over two decades, he participated in 59 Tests where he scored 3631 runs at an average of 42.22 inclusive of twelve centuries. One of his extraordinary feats was hitting five sixes in one innings of a test match against the New Zealanders – a record that stood untouched by another Indian player until Kapil Dev broke it in 1994.
- In terms of batting averages, Umrigar stands fourth among all Indians who have scored more than 3000 Test runs.
- His highest individual score in Test matches was 223 against New Zealand, which remained the record for the highest Test score by an Indian player until it was surpassed by Sunil Gavaskar.
- Umrigar held the record of being the first Indian to hit a test double century and make it past 3000 runs.
Captaincy
In his career, he also served as the captain of Indian cricket team during eight test series between 1955 and 1962. Under his leadership, India secured their maiden victory against England on home soil in 1959 in Chennai Test match. Though his tenure as India’s skipper had its ups and downs, Umrigar is praised for building a strong foundation that led to future successes.
Post Cricketing Career
After retiring from active cricket in 1962, Polly took up various administrative roles such as managing teams and serving as a selector. He went on to become one of the longest-serving secretaries of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). His contribution towards improving the facilities at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium is notably acknowledged even today.
The Legacy That Lives On
Polly Umrigar left an indelible mark on Indian cricket with his exceptional talent and unwavering commitment. As a player who faced some of the greatest cricketers in history – including Stirling Grimmett and Richie Benaud – Umrigar stood out due to his extraordinary performance. Even decades after his retirement, he remains etched vividly in the hearts of all cricket enthusiasts not only within India but globally as well. Polly Umrigar passed away on November 7th, 2006 leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of cricketers to reach for the pinnacle.
