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Devraj Puri
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 12 March 1916 Lahore, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 31 December 1971 (aged 55) Delhi, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-hand batsman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm fast medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1934/35–1944/45 | Northern India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1941/42–1946/47 | Bengal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1947/48 | Delhi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1952/53 | Uttar Pradesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Cricketarchive, 13 May 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Devraj Puri (12 March 1916 – 31 December 1971) was an Indian cricketer and commentator. He played first-class cricket for several teams including Bengal and Delhi.[1] He played one unofficial Test match for India against the Australians in 1935-36. After his playing career, he became a cricket commentator. In contemporary reports, his name often appears as Dev Raj Puri or D. R. Puri.
Biography[edit]
Devraj Puri was a bowler who was considered lightning quick in his early overs.[2] He made his debut in first class cricket for Northern India in the first season of the Ranji Trophy. In his second match, he returned figures 4-1-3-3 as Southern Punjab were bowled out for 22 runs; it would remain the lowest team score in the tournament for more than 70 years.[3] He took 6 wickets for 101 runs in the final against Bombay but Northern Punjab lost by 208 runs.[4] In the 1935-36 season, Puri captained Punjab University to a win in the interuniversity Rohinton Baria Trophy.
In the absence of Amar Singh, he opened the bowling with Mohammad Nissar against the touring Australians in the third unofficial Test at Lahore in January 1936.[5] A match report tells that Puri took a run-up of over 30 yards and "appeared to be faster than Nissar" but without the same control.[6] He was not selected for the 1936 tour of England. According to his son Narottam Puri, he was invited for the trials in Delhi but not allowed to bowl a single ball. This was apparently because he had played a few matches for the Maharaja of Patiala who was an adversary of the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram who captained the touring side.[2]
All India Radio invited Puri to do the radio commentary for the Delhi Test of the 1948-49 series against West Indies on the recommendation of the Nawab of Pataudi.[7] He continued to be a commentator for twenty years. In the Bombay Test against Australia in November 1969, Puri criticised umpire Sambhu Pan's decision to give S. Venkataraghavan out.[8] Several spectators were carrying transistor radios and Puri's comments contributed in inflaming a crowd riot. A part of the Brabourne Stadium was set on fire.[9]
Devraj Puri's son Narottam became a cricket commentator on radio and television.[10] The Devraj Puri Trophy that was given for the North Zone winners in the Ranji Trophy was named after him.[11]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Devraj Puri". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ezekiel, Gulu & Lokapally, Vijay (2020). Speed Merchants. Bloomsbury. p. 6-7. ISBN 978-9-388-27134-9.
- ↑ Southern Punjab v Northern India, 1934-35
- ↑ Bombay v Northern Punjab, 1934-35
- ↑ India v Australians, Lahore, 1935-36
- ↑ Bombay Chronicle match report
- ↑ Dev Raj Puri, A Privileged Moment, Sport and Pastime, 27 November 1965, p.21
- ↑ Ravi Chaturvedi, Cricket Commentary and Commentators, p.78
- ↑ K.R.Wadhwaney, Indian Cricket Controversies, p.98
- ↑ Interview with Dr. Narottam Puri, Sportstar, 06 May, 2020
- ↑ Ranji 1999-2000, zonal trophies