Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji of Nawanagar
Posts in The Copybook tagged ‘Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji of Nawanagar’
In The Copybook
Posts in The Copybook tagged ‘Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji of Nawanagar’
In The Copybook
Cricketing legend W. G. Grace tells a story illustrating how fellow-batsman K. S. Ranjitsinhji set about winning the hearts of English cricketers.
“Among cricketers” wrote that great cricketing legend Dr W. G. Grace, “‘Ranji’ is exceedingly popular, his open-hearted generosity and geniality having captured all their hearts.” But when K. S. Ranjitsinhji (1872-1933) first came up to Cambridge in 1888, he had yet to win his popularity — even as he had yet to win his crown as Prince of Nawanagar. From this story, it is easy to see how Ranji wore down the barriers.
In 1932, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his accession, the Jam Sahib brought vanished days back to Nawanagar with a lavish hand.
In 1932, Colonel His Highness Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji, Jam Sahib of Nawanagar (Jamnagar), celebrated his Silver Jubilee. Lord Irwin, the outgoing Viceroy, had pushed hard for democracy and efficiency, and the Jam Sahib had overseen the development of a modern and prosperous State. But the man remembered by English cricket fans as the swashbuckling ‘Ranji’ showed he was an Indian prince too.
In the year that Ranjitsinhji put aside his bat to concentrate on being the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, journalist A. G. Gardiner looked back on his dazzling career.
In 1907, Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji Jadeja (1872-1933) triumphantly ascended the throne of Nawanagar (Jamnagar) in India, twenty-three years after the bitter disappointment of seeing a rival displace him. It was not part-time work, so in 1912 Ranji called ‘stumps’ on his spectacular career in English cricket, and A. G. Gardiner of ‘The Star’ bade him an affectionate farewell.
The great British public leaves a German tourist speechless during a county match at the Oval in London.
A German tourist spoke to K. S. Ranjitsinhji, the great Indian batsman, about his impressions of the Victorians and their fascination with sport. It was a county cricket match between Surrey and Nottinghamshire at the Oval which truly opened his eyes.
Stylish batting in cricket is about variety, invention and frankly anything that works, and we have Dr W.G. Grace to thank for it.
K. S. Ranjitsinhji, the great Indian batsman, gives his assessment of the significance of Dr W. G. Grace in the history of cricket. For the good Doctor, batting was not about a narrowly perfect style but about getting runs, making batting more inventive and exciting to watch.
A young Indian student from Cambridge was selected for England’s cricket team after public pressure.
In 1934, India inaugurated the Ranji Trophy, a first-class cricket tournament in honour of K.S. Ranjitsinhji (1872-1933), an Indian prince of the British Raj who played cricket for several years at the very highest level for England, a country he loved dearly and which loved him in return.