Ranjitsinhji

Lore & Background

Ranjitsinhji was born into a Hindu Jadeja Rajput family, the first son of a farmer. His family was connected to the ruling house of Nawanagar through his grandfather, a cousin of the Jam Sahib. As a child, he was frequently unwell. He was initially selected as the heir to the throne after the disinheritance of the Jam Sahib’s violent son, but the adoption was never completed, and a later-born son was recognised as the rightful successor. He was educated at the Rajkumar College, an institution run like an English public school, where he was introduced to cricket around the age of ten or eleven. He captained the school side from 1884 to 1888. His academic ability led to his moving to England to study at Cambridge University. During his main cricket career, from 1893 to 1904, he became one of the greatest batsmen of his time, playing for Cambridge University, Sussex, London County, and in fifteen Test matches for England. He was an unorthodox batsman with fast reactions who revolutionised the game by playing more on the back foot, both in defence and attack, taking advantage of improving pitch quality. He is particularly associated with popularising and possibly inventing the leg glance. He has been called the "Father of Indian Cricket" as the earliest top-class Indian cricketer, though he was criticised for not encouraging cricket’s development in India. The annual first-class championship of India, the Ranji Trophy, was named in his honour. He later became the ruler of Nawanagar from 1907 until his death in 1933.

Reader's Guide

Ranjitsinhji’s significance stems from his revolutionary batting style, which fundamentally altered the game during his prime years from 1893 to 1904. Playing for Cambridge University, Sussex, London County, and England in 15 Test matches, he was considered one of the greatest batsmen of his era. His unorthodox technique relied on fast reactions and an individual approach that broke from tradition. Previously, batsmen typically played forward and favored off-side shots, but Ranjitsinhji exploited the improving quality of pitches by playing more on the back foot, both defensively and in attack. He is particularly associated with the leg glance, a shot he popularized and may have invented. Despite being called the "Father of Indian Cricket" as the earliest top-class Indian cricketer, he faced criticism for refusing to aid or encourage cricket’s development in India itself. The annual first-class Ranji Trophy, inaugurated in 1935, was named in his honor. His nephew Duleepsinhji followed his path as a batsman for Cambridge, Sussex, and England. Off the field, Ranjitsinhji’s life involved disputed claims about his adoption and legitimacy as heir to the throne of Nawanagar, which remain unresolved in the historical record. He later ruled as Jam Sahib from 1907 until his death in 1933.

Did You Know?

• Ranjitsinhji's name means 'the lion who conquers in battle,' though he frequently suffered ill health as a child.
• He was a Freemason and a member of Isaac Newton University Lodge at Cambridge.
• He never graduated from Cambridge, concentrating more on sport than study.