2409:4042:4C16:A0E1:B820:A5A9:F9CD:921A at 18:02, 27 June 2022

2022-06-27T18:02:38Z

New page

{{short description|Indian cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Gulabrai Ramchand
| image =
| country = India
| fullname = Gulabrai Sipahimalani Ramchand
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|7|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[Sind]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|9|8|1927|7|27|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| nickname =
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightm =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[fast bowling|medium-fast]]
| role =
| family =
| international = true
| testdebutdate = 5 June
| testdebutyear = 1952
| testdebutagainst = England
| testcap = 61
| lasttestdate = 23 January
| lasttestyear = 1960
| lasttestagainst = Australia
| club1 = [[Sind cricket team|Sind]]
| year1 = 1945/46–1946/47
| club2 = [[Mumbai cricket team|Bombay]]
| year2 = 1948/49–1962/63
| club3 = [[Rajasthan cricket team|Rajasthan]]
| year3 = 1956/57
| columns = 2
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Tests]]
| matches1 = 33
| runs1 = 1,180
| bat avg1 = 24.58
| 100s/50s1 = 2/5
| top score1 = 109
| deliveries1 = 4,976
| wickets1 = 41
| bowl avg1 = 46.31
| fivefor1 = 1
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 6/49
| catches/stumpings1 = 20/–
| column2 = [[First-class cricket|First-class]]
| matches2 = 145
| runs2 = 6,026
| bat avg2 = 36.30
| 100s/50s2 = 16/28
| top score2 = 230*
| deliveries2 = 18,086
| wickets2 = 255
| bowl avg2 = 29.48
| fivefor2 = 9
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 8/12
| catches/stumpings2 = 105/–
| date =
| year =
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/33062.html ESPNcricinfo
}}

'''Gulabrai Sipahimalani''' "'''Ram'''" '''Ramchand''' {{audio|Gulabrai_Ramchand.ogg|pronunciation}} (26 July 1927 – 8 September 2003) was an Indian [[cricket]]er, cricket coach and administrator who played for the [[India national cricket team|national team]] in 33 [[Test cricket|Test]] matches between 1952 and 1960. In his only series as captain, he led India to its first win against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]. According to ''[[Wisden Asia Cricket|Wisden Asia]]'', he was one of the first cricketers to have endorsed commercial brands.<ref name=profile/>

==Early life==
Ramchand was born on 26 July 1927 in [[Karachi]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now in Pakistan) into a [[Sindhis|Sindhi]] family. He began his cricket career playing for [[Sind cricket team|Sind]], and, after the [[Partition of India]], settled in [[Bombay]].<ref name=wisden/>

==Career==
===First-class===
Ramchand made his first-class debut for Sind against Maharashtra in the [[1945–46 Ranji Trophy]]. He represented Sind in two more first-class matches, before making the switch to Bombay at the [[1948–49 Ranji Trophy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=First-Class Matches played by Gulabrai Ramchand|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/926/First-Class_Matches.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref> In the Ranji final that season, he scored a pair of fifties (55 [[not out]] and 80 not out), batting at number 10, as Bombay registered a win.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bombay v Baroda in 1948/49|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18800.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref>

Ramchand was part of the Bombay team in five more Ranji wins, scoring a hundred in all five finals. He scored 149 in the 1951–52 final against Holkar,<ref>{{cite web|title=Bombay v Holkar in 1951/52|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/20/20111.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref> 106 in the 1959–60 final against Mysore,<ref>{{cite web|title=Bombay v Mysore in 1959/60|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/23/23985.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref> 118 in the 1960–61 final against Rajasthan,<ref>{{cite web|title=Rajasthan v Bombay in 1960/61|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/24/24651.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref> 100 in the 1961–62 final against Rajasthan,<ref>{{cite web|title=Bombay v Rajasthan in 1961/62|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/25/25348.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref> and 102 not out in the 1962–63 final against Rajasthan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rajasthan v Bombay in 1962/63|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/25/25975.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref>

===International===
Ramchand was picked in the Indian squad for the England tour in 1952 with his selection being called a "surprise".<ref name=guardian/> He was dismissed for a pair of [[Duck (cricket)|ducks]] in his debut Test at Headingley. He played all four Tests on the tour, and managed only 68 runs and 4 wickets in the series. His performance improved on the West Indies tour in 1952–53, when he was not only promoted up the order but also given the new ball. He made 249 runs at an average of 24.90 in the five-match series and took 8 wickets.<ref name=guardian/>

When India toured Pakistan for five Tests in early 1955, Ramchand averaged 26.90 with the bat and took 10 wickets. His notable performances in the series included a knock of 53 in the second Test after India were reduced to 103 for 7, and career-best bowling figures of 6 for 49 in the fifth Test match at Karachi.<ref name=guardian/>

Ramchand scored his maiden Test hundred (unbeaten 106) against New Zealand at Calcutta in December 1955.<ref name=guardian/> His second Test hundred came at his home ground [[Brabourne Stadium]] against Australia in October 1956, when he made 109 against a bowling attack consisting of [[Ray Lindwall]], [[Pat Crawford]], [[Alan Keith Davidson|Alan Davidson]] and [[Richie Benaud]].<ref>{{cite web|title=India v Australia in 1956/57|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/22/22250.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> His knock which included 19 fours was described as "an innings of guts and gumption, studded with rasping square-cuts and full-blooded hooks."<ref name=guardian/>

Ramchand's next series came two years later when the West Indies toured India for three Tests. In an otherwise unsuccessful series, his unbeaten 67 in the first match ensured India held on for a draw.<ref>{{cite web|title=India v West Indies in 1958/59|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/23/23212.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref>

In December 1959, Ramchand was named captain for the five-match series against Australia. Although his individual performance in the series was unimpressive with averages of 12.33 with the bat and 200 with the ball,<ref>{{cite web|title=Records / Australia in India Test Series, 1959/60 – India / Batting and bowling averages|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=126;team=6;type=series|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref> Ramchand's captaincy was praised in the media<ref name=rediff/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ramchand|first1=Partab|title=When Jasu Patel wrought the miracle at Kanpur|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/99381.html|access-date=9 August 2016|work=ESPNcricinfo|date=18 February 2001}}</ref> as he led India to its first Test win against Australia, in the second match at Kanpur.<ref name=vasu/><ref name=profile/> India lost the series 1–2 amid expectations of a [[Whitewash (sport)|whitewash]] victory for the strong Australian team.<ref name=rediff/> [[Chandu Borde]] recollected that Ramchand captained the team "brilliantly to victory" and that he was "always giving us the self-belief that we could beat them."<ref name=wisden/> This was also his last series for India.

==Playing style==
Ramchand was an aggressive [[Batting order (cricket)|middle-order]] batsman who also often opened the bowling.<ref name=guardian>{{cite news|last1=Pandya|first1=Haresh|title=Obituary: Gulabrai Ramchand|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/sep/15/guardianobituaries.india|access-date=1 August 2016|work=The Guardian|date=15 September 2003}}</ref> ''[[Wisden Asia Cricket|Wisden Asia]]'', in its obituary, described him as "a brilliant [[all-rounder]]: an explosive batsman, a very good opening bowler and a superb close catcher."<ref name=profile>{{cite news|title=Gulabrai Ramchand|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/33062.html|access-date=1 August 2016|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Although strongly built,<ref name=guardian/> Ramchand was a medium-pace [[swing bowling|swing bowler]] and mainly relied on the [[inswinger]].<ref name=vasu/> Cricket writer [[Sujit Mukherjee]] once said that Ramchand "looked every inch a fast bowler until he actually bowled."<ref name=wisden>{{cite news|title=Wisden – GS Ramchand|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155388.html|access-date=1 August 2016|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

As a captain, Ramchand was remembered by his teammates as a leader who instilled self-belief in them and motivated them.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gollapudi|first1=Nagaraj|title=Former cricketers react to Ramchand's death|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/133488.html|access-date=1 August 2016|work=ESPNcricinfo|date=8 September 2003}}</ref><ref name=guardian/>

==Later life and death==
Ramchand worked as the manager of the Indian team at the [[1975 Cricket World Cup]]. He worked 26 years for [[Air India]], having served as station manager in [[Bangkok]] and [[Hong Kong]].<ref name=rediff/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Vijayakar|first1=Pradeep|title=Air India cricket, not carrier flying high|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/icc-world-t20-2016/top-stories/Air-India-cricket-not-carrier-flying-high/articleshow/4983814.cms?|access-date=1 August 2016|work=The Times of India|date=7 September 2009}}</ref> In 1995, he recovered after suffering a [[cardiac arrest]].<ref name=rediff/>

Ramchand suffered three [[heart attack]]s in the two months preceding his death. He was admitted to the [[Hinduja Hospital]] in Mumbai on 1 September 2003, and, days before his death, asked the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] (BCCI) for financial help for his treatment. The BCCI granted {{INR}}2 lakh for the treatment, saying further financial assistance would be provided if required.<ref name=vasu>{{cite news|last1=Vasu|first1=Anand|title=GS Ramchand, former Indian captain dead|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/133481.html|access-date=1 August 2016|work=ESPNcricinfo|date=7 September 2003}}</ref> On 5 September, it was reported that he had been discharged from the [[intensive care unit]] (ICU). His wife Leela Ramchand stated that "he had to be shifted out of the ICU as we cannot afford it."<ref name=ailing>{{cite news|title=Ailing Ramchand asks for financial assistance from board|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/133444.html|date=5 September 2003|access-date=1 August 2016|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He died on 8 September in the hospital due to "heart complications".<ref name=rediff>{{cite news|title=Former India captain Ramchand dead|url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2003/sep/08ram.htm|access-date=1 August 2016|work=Rediff|date=8 September 2003}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=33062}}
* {{CricketArchive|id=926}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
before=[[Datta Gaekwad]] |
title=[[Indian national cricket captains|Indian national cricket captain]] |
years=1959/60 |
after=[[Nari Contractor]] |
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Indian Test Cricket Captains}}
{{India 1975 Cricket World Cup squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramchand, Gulabrai}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:India Test cricket captains]]
[[Category:India Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:Mumbai cricketers]]
[[Category:Commonwealth XI cricketers]]
[[Category:Sindhi people]]
[[Category:Sindh cricketers]]
[[Category:Rajasthan cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian Universities cricketers]]
[[Category:West Zone cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Karachi]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Mumbai]]

Gulabrai Ramchand - Revision history

2409:4042:4C16:A0E1:B820:A5A9:F9CD:921A at 18:02, 27 June 2022