Name Hindi: वी. एम. मुद्दैया / Gender Man
About V. M. Muddiah
V. M. Muddiah,, whose full name is Vasudev Mahabaleshwarappa Mudgal, was an eminent Indian cricketer who graced the cricket field in his time and left remembered marks on the game.
Early Life and Education
Born on December 18th, 1936 in Bangalore, India, Muddiah showed interest in sports, particularly cricket at a young age. He received extensive training as he grew up which solidified his skills and passion towards this sport.
Cricket Career
Muddiah’s handiness with a bat developed through years of practice, and eventually started playing professionally for Madhya Pradesh team from where he propelled into limelight with remarkable performances.
- 1956: His first-class debut came against Rajasthan during Ranji Trophy group league in Indore against Rajasthan.
- 1961-62: He transitioned to Mysore (now Karnataka) marking the switch with an innings of 80 runs & taking three wickets against Andhra.
- Ranji Trophy season: His most notable performance was leading Mysore’s triumph in 1973/74 Ranji Trophy tournament scoring memorable hundreds against Tamil Nadu in semi-final & Bombay in final.
- In Total: Muddiah played a total of 86 first-class matches scoring 3750 runs with six centuries under his belt apart from picking up 51 wickets throughout his career spanning over two decades from 1956 till end of 1977/78 season.
Career Beyond Field
After his active playing days got over, Muddiah continued to contribute towards cricket in terms of coaching and administration. He served as a selector for junior Karnataka team & also held post of vice-president for Karnataka State Cricket Association.
Award and Recognition
In 2019, he was awarded by the BCCI with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award completing recognition trifecta from all levels namely state(KSCA), zonal(South Zone) & national(BCCI).
Legacy
Muddiah remained associated with game till his death in April 2021 at age of 84 battling diabetic complications. His legacy lives on through promising cricketers whom he coached & inspired throughout life. An official press release from KSCA after demise aptly sums up his impact where it describes him as a stalwart who served cricket relentlessly both during and beyond his playing days.
In many ways, V.M. Muddiah encompassed spirit of ‘Gentleman’s Game’ on field doing justice not just to ball but also showcasing gentlemanly conduct both within & off cricket boundaries.
