Indravijaysinhji

Rajkumar Shri Indravijaysinhji Dilawarsinhji Jadeja (24 April 1915 – 14 June 1981) was an Indian cricketer. A descendant of the ruling family of Nawanagar State, and a nephew of Ranjitsinhji, who played Test cricket for England, Indravijaysinhji was introduced to cricket at the Rajkumar College, Rajkot where most of his family had been educated. He went on to play Ranji Trophy matches for Western India, Nawanagar, and Saurashtra, captaining Nawanagar. He also appeared for several combined teams against touring international sides, and finished his career with 28 first-class matches and a single first-class century.

Early life and family Indravijaysinhji was a son of Maharaj Shri Dilawarsinhji (1883–1930). His father's family were prominent in Sarodar (or Sadodar), a village in Nawanagar State on Gujarat's Kathiawar peninsula. His paternal grandfather was descended from the Jam Sahibs of Nawanagar, and his paternal grandmother was a daughter of Takhatsinhji, the Maharaja of Jodhpur. Indravijaysinhji was educated at the Rajkumar College in neighbouring Rajkot State. The family were prominent in cricketing circles – his uncle, Ranjitsinhji, and first cousin, Duleepsinhji, played Test cricket for England, while three other first cousins played first-class cricket. Indravijaysinhji was briefly an officer in the British Indian Army, with the rank of lieutenant.

Sporting career Indravijaysinhji made his first-class cricket debut at the age of 19, during the inaugural 1934–35 edition of the Ranji Trophy. He appeared for a combined Western India side, playing little part in the game, and also played a first-class match for the Cricket Club of India against Bombay late in the season. From the 1936–37 tournament, a Nawanagar team participated, for whom he made most of his first-class appearances. Indravijaysinhji served as captain of Nawanagar in seven matches, from 1938 to 1941, of which the team won three, drew three, and lost one. Nawanagar's team at times included Indravijaysinhji; his brothers, Ranvirsinhji, Yadvendrasinhji, Jayendrasinhji. The side's most notable player during this time was Vinoo Mankad, who later played at Test level for India. Playing against Sindh during the 1938–39 tournament, Indravijaysinhji scored his only first-class century, an innings of 121 not out.

Indravijaysinhji's final Ranji Trophy match for Nawanagar came during the 1943–44 season.