Palwankar Shivram

Babaji Palwankar Shivram (6 March 1878 – 28 December 1941) was an Indian cricketer who was one of the most successful players for the Hindus cricket team in the Bombay Quadrangular competition.

Early years Babaji Palwankar Shivram was born on 6 March 1878 in the city of Bhuj, in the modern Indian state of Gujarat. Completing his schooling in Mumbai (then Bombay), Shivram obtained employment with the Greater Indian Peninsular Railways. He was the brother of cricketer and social activist Palwankar Baloo and Palwankar Vithal, who was appointed a captain of the Hindus team.

Cricket career Shivram joined his elder brother Palwankar Baloo in playing first-class cricket in 1905, soon becoming one of the most famous sportsmen of the time, breaking caste barriers to excel in what was considered a sport of the upper classes and the British. He became one of the few so-called lower caste persons ever chosen to play for the Hindus team in the Bombay Quadrangular competition, the most prominent and popular cricket contest in India at the time. Mainly an off-break spin bowler, Shivram also developed as a valuable batsman, becoming an all rounder and was chosen along with Baloo to play for the All-India cricket team slated to tour England in 1911.

Statistics First-Class Career Batting and Fielding (1904/05-1924/25) - Matches: 39 - Innings: 67 - Not Out: 7 - Runs: 1130 - Highest Score: 113* - Batting Average: 18.83 - 100s: 1 - 50s: 4 - Catches: 18

First-Class Career Bowling (1908/09-1924/25) - Balls: 2687 - Maiden overs: 85 - Runs: 1090 - Wickets: 53 - Best Bowling Figures: 4-31 - Bowling Average: 20.56 - Strike rate: 50.69 - Economy rate: 2.43