Name Hindi: प्रणब रॉय / Gender Man
Pranab Roy – A Cricket Legacy
Raised in a cricketing family, Pranab Roy, son of the legendary cricketer Pankaj Roy and father to yet another aspiring international player, has truly placed his imprint on the sport. Born on 4th June 1953 in Kolkata, West Bengal, Pranab’s journey demonstrates a life dedicated to excellence in cricket.
The Beginning
With a strong influence from his father, an iconic figure in Indian cricket history also known for establishing multiple record-breaking moments with the bat during his lifetime, Pranab had big shoes to fill. His father’s influence clearly sparked something within him at an early age because he too developed a love for batting. At home, with both his brother Ambar and himself sharing the passion for cricket, it was no wonder that their garden became their first practice pitch.
A Batting Specialist Emerges
Inspired by his father’s achievements and fueled by fierce dedication towards the sport, soon enough, Pranab made a name as a ‘cool-headed run machine’, excelling primarily as an opening batsman. When studying at St Xaviers’ College in Kolkata, he played Ranji Trophy matches representing Bengal multiple times between 1972-1991. Here are some notable feats of his career:
- Career-best individual score of 152*
- From 79 First Class games overall- scored total runs of around 3700
- His consistency helped winning Bengal team to the finals three times during Ranji Trophy tournaments-unfortunately coming up second best.
National Recognition and International Debut
Due to his consistent performances and commendable run in the domestic leagues, Pranab was given the honor of being selected for the Indian national team. He made his International Test debut on 29th January 1982, against England at Kolkata’s iconic cricket ground- Eden Gardens.
Performance in International Cricket
Alas! His international cricketing journey was not as enduring as his father’s or as illustrious as his domestic career. Over two years, he played only two test matches without making a heavy impression with sizeable scores:
- In his debut match, he scored 8 runs in total from two innings against English bowling attack
- The second outing saw him score 15 and 9 against Pakistan attacks
His brief stint could be attributed to many reasons; intense competition within Indian cricket hierarchy during that period and seeming inability to replicate domestic success into international scenes are some speculations.
Post Retirement Contributions
Retirement hasn’t stopped Roy contributing to cricket. He continues to work behind the scenes nourishing young talents through extensive coaching programs across East India while also serving as a member of talent scouting teams for IPL franchises.
A Legacy Continued…
Pranab has continued the legacy set by his father Pankaj who gifted an amazing world record partnership stand with Vinoo Mankad- an effort undeciphered until 2008. And now, Pranab’s son Sourav Roy, a promising young off-spinner carrying forward the family name further onto the cricketing sphere takes pride in holding three generations together under one banner – C
ricket!
Note: All statistical information is accurate up-to last verified source on July 2021.
