Laxmidas Jai      

Full name Laxmidas Purshottamdas Jai

Born April 1, 1902, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra

Died January 29, 1968, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra (aged 65 years 303 days)

Major teams India, Hindus, Mumbai

Batting style Right-hand bat

Figures lie in the case of some cricketers, and they certainly do in LP Jai's case. A stylish batsman who loved to play strokes, Jai's footwork was exemplary. For years he was a tower of strength to the Bombay batting and in a first-class career that spanned two decades he scored over 3000 runs at an average of a little over 31 with five centuries. But he played in only one Test, the first ever on Indian soil, against England at Bombay in 1933-34 scoring 19 and 0.

Jai was chosen for the 1932 tour of England, but he refused to make the trip on political grounds as most of the leaders of the National movement were in jail. He did finally make it to England in 1936 but early on the tour he suffered a broken finger and that was a major impediment. In later years, he served on the national selection committee and earned a name as a knowledgable and courageous selector.
Partab Ramchand

1936

Laxmidas Jai

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