We know what happened on June 25, 1983.
We also know what happened on June 25, 1932.
This incident took place in the early morning hours of that day.
This is the Lieutenant-Colonel Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, KCSI, the Maharaja of Porbandar.
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We also know what happened on June 25, 1932.
This incident took place in the early morning hours of that day.
This is the Lieutenant-Colonel Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, KCSI, the Maharaja of Porbandar.
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India's captain on that tour.
Porbandar was a remarkably ordinary cricketer.
He obviously did not bowl or keep wickets. He was a king, after all.
He scored two First-class runs on that tour. And collected three Rolls-Royces.
But thankfully, he was aware of his limitations.
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Porbandar was a remarkably ordinary cricketer.
He obviously did not bowl or keep wickets. He was a king, after all.
He scored two First-class runs on that tour. And collected three Rolls-Royces.
But thankfully, he was aware of his limitations.
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He played in only 4 of the 26 First-class matches on that tour, happily allowing CK Nayudu to lead.
That was because Porbandar was not chosen as a cricketing captain.
He had other abilities.
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That was because Porbandar was not chosen as a cricketing captain.
He had other abilities.
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Wisden: "For reasons apart from cricket the necessity existed of having a person of distinction and importance in India at the head of affairs, and it was almost entirely because of this that Porbandar led the team."
Let us understand what Indian cricket was like in 1932.
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Let us understand what Indian cricket was like in 1932.
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First-class cricket was rare. Ranji Trophy was not yet conceived.
The Bombay Quadrangular was the most high-profile tournament.
It was a three-match thing with a maximum of two matches per side.
As a result, many cricketers barely knew each the in person.
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The Bombay Quadrangular was the most high-profile tournament.
It was a three-match thing with a maximum of two matches per side.
As a result, many cricketers barely knew each the in person.
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CK Nayudu was a champion.
He was also a natural leader, a man many wanted to follow.
But he was famously authoritarian, perhaps too much for the comfort of some.
He was perhaps too strict, too intense, replicating his role of the colonel on the field as well.
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He was also a natural leader, a man many wanted to follow.
But he was famously authoritarian, perhaps too much for the comfort of some.
He was perhaps too strict, too intense, replicating his role of the colonel on the field as well.
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There were other factors, too. Zones, for example. Or religion.
Being led by a king eliminated all this.
Playing under a monarch probably felt more relatable than under a commoner captain they did not know.
Remember, the kings were also the biggest patrons of Indian cricket.
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Being led by a king eliminated all this.
Playing under a monarch probably felt more relatable than under a commoner captain they did not know.
Remember, the kings were also the biggest patrons of Indian cricket.
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Some team members already played for teams owned by kings.
At about four in the morning of June 25, 1932, some squad members woke up Porbandar.
They refused to play under Nayudu.
They wanted Porbandar to lead, despite his limitations as a cricketer.
Because he was a king.
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At about four in the morning of June 25, 1932, some squad members woke up Porbandar.
They refused to play under Nayudu.
They wanted Porbandar to lead, despite his limitations as a cricketer.
Because he was a king.
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Some even wanted to play under the not-as-strict-as-CK Wazir Ali.
Porbandar's managerial and diplomatic abilities had been tested on this tour, but never to this extent.
He made it clear to the protestors that he would have nothing of it.
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Porbandar's managerial and diplomatic abilities had been tested on this tour, but never to this extent.
He made it clear to the protestors that he would have nothing of it.
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Nayudu had been chosen to lead, and lead he would. There would be no compromise on that.
The protestors eventually backed out.
Nayudu became India's first Test captain.
The Maharaja's cricket career does not impress (though he was apparently a decent teenage talent).
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The protestors eventually backed out.
Nayudu became India's first Test captain.
The Maharaja's cricket career does not impress (though he was apparently a decent teenage talent).
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But had he not been firm (or reasonably greedy), the scorecard of June 25, 1932 might have looked different.
It is only fair we acknowledge what Porbandar did that day.
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It is only fair we acknowledge what Porbandar did that day.
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Note:
Some reports vaguely suggest that Porbandar was down with malaria at that point. How he caught a tropical disease mid-tour in England is not very clear. Perhaps he did.
Some reports vaguely suggest that Porbandar was down with malaria at that point. How he caught a tropical disease mid-tour in England is not very clear. Perhaps he did.
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