K. S. Ranjitsinhji

Jam Saheb Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji

Personal information
Full name	H.H. Jam Saheb Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji of Nawanagar
Born	(1872-09-10)10 September 1872 Sadodar, Kathiawar, British India
Died	2 April 1933(1933-04-02) (aged 60) Jamnagar Palace, British India
Nickname	Ranji, Smith
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm slow
Role	Batsman, later author and Maharaja of Nawanagar
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 105)	16 July 1896 v Australia
Last Test	24 July 1902 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1895–1920	Sussex
1901–1904	London County
1893–1894	Cambridge University
Career statistics
Competition Test FC Matches 15 307 Runs scored 989 24,692 Batting average 44.95 56.37 100s/50s 2/6 72/109 Top score 175 285* Balls bowled 97 8056 Wickets 1 133 Bowling average 39.00 34.59 5 wickets in innings – 4 10 wickets in match – 0 Best bowling 1/23 6/53 Catches/stumpings 13/– 233/–
Source: Cricinfo, 2 April 1933

Ranjitsinhji GCSI GBE (10 September 1872 – 2 April 1933), often known as Ranji, was the ruler of the Indian princely state of Nawanagar from 1907 to 1933, as Maharaja Jam Saheb, and a noted Test cricketer who played for the English cricket team. He also played first-class cricket for Cambridge University, and county cricket for Sussex.

Ranji has widely been regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.Neville Cardus described him as "the Midsummer night's dream of cricket". Unorthodox in technique and with fast reactions, he brought a new style to batting and revolutionised the game. Previously, batsmen had generally pushed forward; Ranji took advantage of the improving quality of pitches in his era and played more on the back foot, both in defence and attack. He is particularly associated with one shot, the leg glance, which he invented or popularised. The first-class cricket tournament in India, the Ranji Trophy, was named in his honour and inaugurated in 1935 by the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. His nephew Duleepsinhji followed Ranji's path as a batsman playing first-class cricket in England and for the England cricket team.