Polly Umrigar

Lore & Background

Polly Umrigar was probably born in Bombay but his place of birth is often cited as Solapur, Maharashtra. His father ran a clothing company. He grew up in Solapur and his family moved to Bombay when he was at school. He was a Parsi, the community that dominated Bombay cricket in the early decades of the twentieth century. He made his first class debut for Parsis at the age of 18 in the Bombay Pentangular in 1944, and studied for a BSc at St Xavier's College. He captained the Bombay University team. He also played hockey and football competitively.

Reader's Guide

Umrigar scored 115 for Combined Universities against the touring West Indians in October 1948, earning him a single appearance in the 2nd Test against the same team in Bombay seven weeks later. He scored only 113 runs in the first four Tests against a weak England side at home a year later. He was dropped from the fifth Test but was included at the last minute due to an injury to Hemu Adhikari. Going in at No.7, he made 130 not out as India won their first ever Test match.

He captained India in eight successive Test matches from the second Test against New Zealand in 1955–56 till the first Test against the West Indies three years later. He resigned the captaincy on the night before the fourth Test at Madras in 1958–59 after a confusion about replacements. He represented India for three more years but never again captained the country. His 337 runs in the five Tests of the series was the highest for India.

He scored three hundreds in the series against Pakistan in 1960–61 and another against England at home in 1961–62. In the fourth Test at Port of Spain, Umrigar scored 56 and 172 not out and took 5 for 107 in the West Indian first innings. He finished the series with 445 runs and nine wickets. His chronic back trouble made him announce his retirement from Test cricket after he returned home.

He continued to play first-class cricket for Bombay for another season and played his last first class match in 1967–68.

Did You Know?

• Umrigar scored the first double century by an Indian in Test cricket, 223 against New Zealand at Hyderabad in 1955–56.
• He scored 130 not out in India's first ever Test win, against England in 1951–52.
• Umrigar's 172 in the fourth Test against West Indies at Port of Spain came off India's last 230 runs.
• He was the chairman of the national selection committee between 1978 and 1982.