Yajurvindra Singh      

It is not very often that a cricketer who has played only four Tests can lay claim to being the joint holder of two world records. And yet this remarkable feat stands against the name of Yajurvindra Singh. Moreover, his feat was even more creditable as it was achieved on his Test debut. And it is not a batting or bowling record but an even more rare fielding record. Brought into the side against England at Bangalore in 1976-77 to strengthen the middle-order batting, following some outstanding performances around the domestic circuit, he failed with the bat but in the first innings took five catches to equal the record held by Australia's Vic Richardson against South Africa in 1935-36. In the second he held two more and this saw him equal the the record held by Richardson's grandson Greg Chappell who took seven catches against England in 1974-75.

A right-hand batsman who could defend dourly or play strokes, as the situation warranted, an occasional medium-pace bowler and a brilliant close in field, Yajurvindra Singh toured England in 1979 but played only in the last Test when he notched up his highest score of 43 not out. His best season in the Ranji Trophy was in 1975-76 when he scored 583 runs at 97.17. In the national competition, his tally was 2657 runs (49.20) with a highest score of 214 for Saurashtra against his old state Maharashtra in 1979-80.
Partab Ramchand

Oct 10, 2003

Yajurvindra Singh celebrates a catch

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