Ranjitsinhji

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Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II
Jam Sahib of Nawanagar (more)
Maharaja of Nawanagar
Reign	11 March 1907–2 April 1933
Predecessor	Jashwantsinhji Vibhaji II
Successor	Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji
Born	(1872-09-10)10 September 1872 Sadodar, Kathiawar, Kathiawar Agency, British Indian Empire
Died	2 April 1933(1933-04-02) (aged 60) Jamnagar Palace, Nawanagar State, Kathiawar Agency, India
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge
Personal information
Nickname	Ranji
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm slow
Role	Batsman
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
1893–1894	Cambridge University
1895–1920	Sussex
1901–1904	London County
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 8,056 Wickets 1 133 Bowling average 39.00 34.59 5 wickets in innings 0 4 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling 1/23 6/53 Catches/stumpings 13/– 233/–
Source: Cricinfo, 15 August 2022

Colonel Kumar Sri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II,^[a] GCSI GBE (10 September 1872 – 2 April 1933), often known as Ranji or K. S. Ranjitsinhji, was an Indian cricketer who later became ruler of his native Indian princely state of Nawanagar from 1907 to 1933. The main part of his cricket career was from 1893 to 1904 when, as one of the greatest batsmen of his time,^[1] he played for Cambridge University, Sussex, London County and, in 15 Test matches, for England.

Ranjitsinhji was an unorthodox batsman whose fast reactions and individual style were to revolutionise the game. Previously, batsmen had generally played forward and made shots to the off side; Ranjitsinhji 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 popularised and may have invented.

He has been called the "Father of Indian Cricket", as he was the earliest top-class Indian cricketer, but he has been criticised for his refusal to aid and encourage the development of cricket in India itself. The annual first-class championship of India, the Ranji Trophy, was named in his honour by Bhupinder Singh of Patiala who inaugurated the competition in 1935. Ranjitsinhji's nephew Duleepsinhji followed his path as a batsman playing first-class cricket for Cambridge, Sussex, and England.

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