When it comes to Team India, it has been graced by numerous Indian cricketers from across communities. Meanwhile, Parsi happens to be a community that has produced some very limited but incredibly talented cricketers.Recently, Gujarat's Arzan Nagwaswalla earned his national call-up as a reserve player for India's upcoming England tour, as he happens to be a Parsi as well. In the same light, we take a look at the six Parsi cricketers to have dominated Indian cricket to date.
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Rusi SurtiSurti was a bowling all-rounder who played for India between 1960-69 and took part in 26 Tests. He had a unique talent for bowling medium-pace and spin, while he was also a reliable lower-order batsman. The highlight of his career came during the 1967-68 Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) tour, as he scored nearly 700 runs in just eight Tests.
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Rusi ModiModi had a limited Test career for India between 1946-52, playing ten Tests, as he scored 736 runs at an average of 46.0, including a ton and six half-centuries. His highlight season came during the 1944-45 Ranji Trophy, scoring 1,000-plus runs, as he became the first Indian batsman to do so.Rustomji JamshedjiJamshedji is a notable name in the list for having played India's first Test at home in 1933-34 against England. He made his debut at the age of 41, making him the oldest Indian debutant to date, while he claimed three wickets in the game and was the only match he played for the national side.
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Polly UmrigarUmrigar is one of the most remarkable Parsi cricketers to date for India. He was known for his height and productive batting, as he amassed more than 3,600 Test runs in 59 games at an average of 42.2. He was India's record run-scorer and centurion in the format before being surpassed by Sunil Gavaskar. Besides captaining India in eight Tests, he was also the first India to slam a double ton in the format.Nari ContractorContractor, too, happens to be a famous name in Indian cricket. The Parsi cricketer played 31 Tests for India between 1955-62, scoring 1,611 runs at 31.6 as an opener. He became India's youngest skipper at the age of 26. His career was curtailed due to a severe injury after being struck on the head by Windies pacer Charlie Griffith.
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Farokh EngineerEngineer was the final Parsi cricketer to have played for India. He featured in Tests and One-Day Internationals between 1961-75 and is the only Parsi cricketer to have played ODIs to date. In 1966-67, during a Test against the Windies in Chennai, he scored 94 runs in just a session, while beside his batting, he was highly exquisite as a wicketkeeper. He averaged more than 30 in both formats.NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitise, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona
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