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Full name Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan
Born April 21, 1945, Madras (now Chennai)
Current age 63 years 169 days
Major teams India,Derbyshire,Madras,Tamil Nadu
Nickname Venkat
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Other Umpire, Referee
Batting and fielding averages
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
BF
SR
100
50
4s
6s
Ct
St
Tests
57
76
12
748
64
11.68
0
2
3
44
0
ODIs
15
9
4
54
26*
10.80
126
42.85
0
0
3
0
4
0
First-class
341
457
84
6617
137
17.73
1
24
317
0
List A
71
44
13
346
26*
11.16
0
0
29
0
Bowling averages
Mat
Inns
Balls
Runs
Wkts
BBI
BBM
Ave
Econ
SR
4w
5w
10
Tests
57
96
14877
5634
156
8/72
12/152
36.11
2.27
95.3
7
3
1
ODIs
15
14
868
542
5
2/34
2/34
108.40
3.74
173.6
0
0
0
First-class
341
83678
33568
1390
9/93
24.14
2.40
60.2
85
21
List A
71
2262
64
4/31
4/31
35.34
1
0
0
Career statistics
Test debut
India v New Zealand at Chennai, Feb 27-Mar 2, 1965 scorecard
Last Test
India v Pakistan at Jalandhar, Sep 24-29, 1983 scorecard
Australia v New Zealand at Faridabad, Oct 29, 2003 scorecard
ODI matches
52
ODI statistics
ICC match referee statistics
Test debut
Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Moratuwa, Nov 27-Dec 2, 1992 scorecard
Last Test
Australia v New Zealand at Brisbane, Dec 3-7, 1993 scorecard
Test matches
5
Test statistics
ODI debut
Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Colombo (RPS), Dec 4, 1992 scorecard
Last ODI
New Zealand v South Africa at Hobart, Dec 18, 1993 scorecard
ODI matches
8
ODI statistics
Profile
An offspinner who was both accurate and penetrative, Srinivas Venkatraghavan was a member of the famous spin quartet which teased and tormented batsmen the world over for well over a decade. He was a fighter to the core. Having to compete with EAS Prasanna for the offspinner's slot, Venkat was in an unenviable position. But he kept improving as a bowler, was a useful tailend batsman, an excellent close in fieldsman and a shrewd captain. The international career of Venkat, who remained very fit throughout his playing days, lasted from February 1965 to September 1983, one of the longest for an Indian player.
Not yet out of his teens when he made his Test debut, Venkat made an immediate impact by taking 21 wickets in four Tests against New Zealand, including 12 wickets in the final game at New Delhi. But once the spin quartet was formed, Venkat found himself more out of the side than in it. Now and then, however, he made his presence felt, like when he took 5 for 95 to star in India's victory over West Indies at Port of Spain in 1970-71. That 'India Rubber Year' remained Venkat's high watermark - he took 35 wickets in eight Tests, besides being the vice-captain of a victorious team. However he could command a regular place in the side only after the spin quartet had broken up in the late 70s. He led India in the first two World Cup competitions and also on the tour of England in 1979. By 1980 however he had lost his place in the side but, even as his career seemed over, he made a comeback in 1983 when he was picked for the tour of the West Indies. He retired from first-class cricket in 1985 after taking the second-biggest haul of wickets in the Ranji Trophy - 530.
In retirement, Venkat has been an administrator, a manager of the Indian side, before turning successfully to umpiring where he became one of the most respected officials in the game. He officiated in 73 Tests and 52 ODIs before retiring from umpiring in March 2004.
Partab Ramchand
