Devraj Puri
Personal information
Born(1916-03-12)12 March 1916
Lahore, India
Died31 December 1971(1971-12-31) (aged 55)
Delhi, India
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1934/35–1944/45Northern India
1941/42–1946/47Bengal
1947/48Delhi
1952/53Uttar Pradesh
Career statistics
Competition FC
Matches 18
Runs scored 274
Batting average 13.04
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 58
Balls bowled 2,459
Wickets 54
Bowling average 20.48
5 wickets in innings 2
10 wickets in match 1
Best bowling 6/28
Catches/stumpings 14/–
Source: CricketArchive, 13 May 2021

Devraj Puri (12 March 1916 – 31 December 1971) was an Indian cricketer and commentator. He played first-class cricket for several teams including Bengal and Delhi.[1] He played one unofficial Test match for India against the Australians in 1935-36. After his playing career, he became a cricket commentator. In contemporary reports, his name often appears as Dev Raj Puri or D. R. Puri.

Biography

Devraj Puri was a bowler who was considered very fast in his early overs.[2] He made his debut in first class cricket for Northern India in the first season of the Ranji Trophy. In his second match, he returned figures 4-1-3-3 as Southern Punjab were bowled out for 22 runs; it would remain the lowest team score in the tournament for more than 70 years.[3] He took 6 wickets for 101 runs in the final against Bombay but Northern Punjab lost by 208 runs.[4] In the 1935–36 season, Puri captained Punjab University to a win in the interuniversity Rohinton Baria Trophy.

Puri opened the bowling with Mohammad Nissar against the touring Australians in the third unofficial Test at Lahore in January 1936.[5] A match report tells that Puri took a run-up of over 30 yards and "appeared to be faster than Nissar" but without the same control.[6] He was not selected for the 1936 tour of England. According to his son Narottam Puri, Devraj Puri was invited for the trials in Delhi but not allowed to bowl a single ball apparently because he had played a few matches for the Maharaja of Patiala. Patiala was an adversary of the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram who was the captain of the touring side.[2]

All India Radio invited Puri to do the radio commentary for the Delhi Test of the 1948-49 series against West Indies on the recommendation of the Nawab of Pataudi.[7] He continued to be a commentator for twenty years. In the Bombay Test against Australia in November 1969, Puri criticised umpire Sambhu Pan's decision to give S. Venkataraghavan out.[8] Several spectators were carrying transistor radios and Puri's comments contributed in inflaming a crowd riot. A part of the Brabourne Stadium was set on fire.[9]

The Devraj Puri Trophy that was given for the North Zone winners in the Ranji Trophy was named after him.[10] His son Narottam became a cricket commentator on radio and television.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Devraj Puri". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 Ezekiel, Gulu & Lokapally, Vijay (2020). Speed Merchants. Bloomsbury. pp. 6–7. ISBN 978-9-388-27134-9.
  3. ↑ Southern Punjab v Northern India, 1934-35
  4. ↑ Bombay v Northern Punjab, 1934-35
  5. ↑ India v Australians, Lahore, 1935-36
  6. ↑ Bombay Chronicle match report
  7. ↑ Dev Raj Puri, A Privileged Moment, Sport and Pastime, 27 November 1965, p.21
  8. ↑ Ravi Chaturvedi, Cricket Commentary and Commentators, p.78
  9. ↑ K.R.Wadhwaney, Indian Cricket Controversies, p.98
  10. ↑ Ranji 1999-2000, zonal trophies
  11. ↑ Interview with Dr. Narottam Puri, Sportstar, 06 May, 2020
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