|
 This
is a hard to believe but no one will dare to challenge the
fact that when it comes to counting of Sindhi contribution
to sporting arena of India, finger tips proves sufficient,
but this is also fact whenever a sindhi enters into
sporting field, most of times he goes to touch and create
new heights and record this may be Narendra Hirwani - the
world record creator leg spin bowler or teen age Billiards
and Snooker World Champion Pankaj Advani, Even we go
further deep in history, when Indian cricket team register
ever first Test match victory against Australia, Indian
team was being lead by none else but a sindhi "Ramchand
Gulabrai Sipahimalani" famous as G S Ramchand.
G S Ramchand was born on 26th July 1927 at Karachi Sindh
and has represented India in 33 Tests. He was a hard
hitting batsman, very accurate bowler with brisk medium
pace deliveries and reliable fine close fielder, who
started cricketing career with England tour in 1952. His
first class debut was the match between Sindh and
Maharashtra in the season 1945-1946. After partition he
shifted to Mumbai.
In his debut test he scored a pair at Headingley against
Len Hutton's strong England team, though he took couple of
wicket, this test is treated historic as in the second
inning at one stage India was without score and has lost
four wicket, Ramchand was one among these four.
In his test career he crossed the three figure twice, both
times on home soil, the first an unbeaten 106 against New
Zealand at Kolkatta in 1955-56, and the second the innings
he is most remembered for - 109 at Bombay against the
mighty Australian attack of Ray Lindwall, Alan Davidson
and Richie Benaud in 1956, his this inning become
significant as when he step in India was struggling at 74
for 4 and his inning helped the Indian team to end the
test with a creditable draw.
Beside scoring 1,180 runs at 24.58 he took 41 wickets at
46.31 in 33 test he played. In 145 first class matches
scored 6026 runs with average of 36.30 and 16 ton knocks,
but for Bombay [Mumbai] his record was incredible
averaging very high at 75.55 even his first class highest
runs 230 not out were scored for Mumbai against
Maharashtra not only this but also his best bowling
performance 8 for 12 against Sourashtra in 1959 was also
for Mumbai.
He also played in the English Cricket League for six year
from 1951 to 1957. The most remarkable test of his life
was Kanpur Test in [1959 -1960 series] against the touring
Australian team lead by Richie Benaud. He was captain of
Indian team and went on to record ever first test win
against the Australia.
He retired from first class cricket in 1965-1966 and kept
on working with Air India but his love and passion for
cricket was alive till his death on 7th September 2003. It
is said that the day before he died, he sent his wife out
from his bedside at the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai to get
the latest score in the Test between Pakistan and
Bangladesh.
G S Ramchand was the first cricketer who endorsed a
commercial and was the team manager of Indian team
participated in ever first ODI World Cup in 1975.
Following words of famous Australian Cricket Captain Mark
Taylor, are truly expressing greatness of this player of
unmatched caliber "Sir, my name is Mark Taylor. I am here
to receive an award on behalf of my team. Can I request to
shake the hand with the man who led India to their first
win over us." |