Of cricket’s greatest players, K.S. Ranjit Singh ji was the first Indian to represent England. He was pioneer of the ‘leg glance’. In 1897 Wisdom recognized his magnificent batsman ship by selecting him as one of the five cricketers of the year.
K.S. Ranjit Singhji was born on September 10, 1872, in Sarodar Kathiawar. He began his cricketing career with Cambridge, England and earned his ‘Blues’ in 1893. His unorthodox playing style caught the eyes of the English cricketing world.
His fantastic performance in 1896 in country cricket brought him in the English team. In the second Test of 1896 against Australia he scored 62 and 154 not out and England won the match.
In addition to his unbeaten 154, Ranjit Singhji made nine other centuries during the season. He scored 2,781 runs with an average of 57.91 and broke the 25-years-old record of WG. Grace. A useful change bowler and a safe catcher in the slips, Ranjitji was the complete cricketer.