Raj Singh Dungarpur

Summary

Raj Singh Dungarpur (19 December 1935 – 12 September 2009) was a president of Board of Control for Cricket in India. He played first class cricket for 16 years and was in and out of the Board of Control for more than 20 years. He was a selector of the national team for two terms. He also managed the Indian cricket team four times on overseas tours.

Raj Singh Dungarpur
Personal information
Full name
Raj Singh Dungarpur
Born(1935-12-19)19 December 1935
Dungarpur, Rajasthan, India
Died12 September 2009(2009-09-12) (aged 73)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1955–56Madhya Bharat
1956–57 to 1970–71Rajasthan
1960–61 to 1967–68Central Zone
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 86
Runs scored 1292
Batting average 15.20
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 44 not out
Balls bowled 10489
Wickets 206
Bowling average 28.84
5 wickets in innings 5
10 wickets in match 1
Best bowling 7/88
Catches/stumpings 59/0
Source: Cricinfo, 26 July 2014
24th President of BCCI
In office
1996–1999
Preceded byInderjit Singh Bindra
Succeeded byA. C. Muthiah

As the chairman of the selection committee, Dungarpur introduced Sachin Tendulkar to international cricket by selecting him for India's 1989 tour of Pakistan when he was just 16 years old.[1] He is also credited for establishing the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.[2]

Biography edit

Maharaj Raj Singh was born in the erstwhile princely state of Dungarpur in Rajasthan (then called Rajputana) on 19 December 1935.[citation needed] He was the youngest son of Maharawal Lakshman Singhji, the ruler of Dungarpur.[citation needed] He has two brothers, namely, Jaisinghji and Mahipalsinghji, and three sisters, one of whom is the Maharani of Bikaner.[citation needed] He studied at Daly College, Indore. He was the long-term romantic partner of Lata Mangeshkar, the legendary singer.[3][4]

He played for the Rajasthan cricket team and Central Zone cricket team, appearing in 86 first class cricket matches from 1955 to 1971, and taking 206 wickets as a medium-pace bowler. In Rajasthan's victory over Vidarbha in 1967-68 he took his best figures of 7 for 88 and 5 for 55.[5] He was appointed as the Manager of the Indian Cricket team on a number of occasions.[citation needed] He was also a keen wildlife enthusiast, and golfer.[citation needed]

He was also the president of Cricket Club of India, Mumbai for 13 years. He served as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India for two terms.[6] His last cricketing stint was as the manager of the Indian team to Pakistan.

He died on 12 September 2009, after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer's disease, in Mumbai, aged 73. His funeral was held at Dungarpur.[7][8]

References edit

  1. ^ "Raj Singh Dungarpur: A bachelor wedded to cricket". Sify. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  2. ^ "His last words: Donald George Bradman". Daily News and Analysis. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  3. ^ Wisden 2010, p. 1678.
  4. ^ In the name of love: Unsung saga of melody queen Lata, Outlook, 24 NOVEMBER 2019
  5. ^ Rajasthan v Vidarbha 1967-68
  6. ^ "Former BCCI president Dungarpur dies". HeadlinesIndia. 12 September 2009. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Raj Singh Dungarpur dies aged 73". Cricinfo. ESPN. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  8. ^ "Former BCCI chief Raj Singh Dungarpur dead". DNA. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.

External links edit

  • Raj Singh Dungarpur at ESPNcricinfo
  • Raj Singh at CricketArchive
  • Raj Singh Dungarpur website