Name Hindi: रंगा सोहोनी / Gender Man
Ranga Sohoni – A Legend of Cricket
Ranga Sohoni was one of the most talented and skilled Indian cricketers during the 1940s. Although he faced several setbacks in his career, mainly due to injuries and inconsistent team selection by selectors, his contributions to the sport are yet revered by many cricket enthusiasts across India.
Early Life and Career
Born on July 26th, 1921 in a small town in Maharashtra, Sohoni’s interest in cricket began at an early age. As he grew older, this passion for the game turned into technical prowess that secured him a spot in Bombay’s star-studded batting lineup (then known as Bombay Quadrangular) during his teenage years.
Domestic Legacy … and Lack of International Success
Despite not achieving much international success with only four Test match appearances between 1948 and 1952, Ranga achieved remarkable success at the domestic level. Known primarily for his fast bowling talent in first-class cricket, he played like a genuine all-rounder – excelling both as a right-hand batsman and right-arm fast-medium swing bowler.
- First-Class Debut: His first appearance in domestic first-class cricket came in 1939 when he represented Nawanagar against Kathiawar.
- Milestone Match: In a Ranji Trophy match against Baroda in December 1945, Sohoni delivered one of his finest performances scoring centuries both innings besides claiming eight wickets.
- Prolific Partnership: In partnership with Madhav Mantri — another legendary cricketer — Ranga created history when they put on 277 runs for the seventh wicket. Sohoni scored a spectacular unbeaten 200 in this partnership during a Ranji Trophy match against Maharashtra in January 1949.
International Career Shortcomings
Despite his glorious career at the domestic level, Ranga could not emulate similar success at the international level mainly due to inconsistent selection and frequent injuries.
The start of his test career in 1948 was marred by political tensions between India and Pakistan which resulted in irregular cricket matches over an extended period.
Eventually, injuries forced him out of the sport prematurely.
Farewell to Cricket
Ranga Sohoni retired from first-class cricket following the end of the Bombay Quadrangular tournament in December 1956. He later migrated to Canada where he spent the remainder of his life until passing away on August 9th, 1994.
Although Ranga’s days on the cricket field are long past, his extraordinary contribution to Indian cricket is remembered with respect by many even today.
