Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji

Cricket career Early years Duleepsinhji represented Cheltenham Cricket Club from 1921 to 1923 and captained the side later. He had a batting average of 52.36 with his highest score being 162 and took 50 wickets at an average of 13.66 runs with his leg breaks. In the 1930 English cricket season, he made his top score of 333 runs on a single day against Northamptonshire which is the highest score by a Sussex batter till date. He scored centuries in each of the two innings three times in his career. His only tour abroad was with the Marylebone Cricket Club team in Australia and New Zealand in 1929-30, when he was the top scorer. In June 1930, he made his highest score of 173 in his first match against the Australian team at Lord's. Harold Gilligan, the captain rated him the best player of slow bowling on a wet pitch that he ever saw. He made 12 appearances in tests and scored 995 runs at an average of 58.52 and has one of the highest averages in the history of test cricket.

Public service

Following his playing career, he served as the High Commissioner of India in Australia and New Zealand and later as the chairman of the Public Service Commission of Saurashtra after his return to India.

Death Duleepsinhji died on 5 December 1959, following a heart attack, in Bombay.

Awards and honours Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1930)

Legacy The Duleep Trophy, one of the premier first class cricket competitions in India is named after him.