OTD | India’s World Cup-winning cricketer Roger Binny was born in 1955

On the 19th of July 1955, Roger Binny was born in Bengaluru. The former Indian cricketer was in the team that won the ODI World Cup in 1983. He was also a part of the Indian team that won the Benson and Hedges World Championship of Cricket in 1985. Back then, it was equivalent to winning two of the biggest prizes in cricket. For someone to help a team like India achieve the massive feat meant a lot.

Binny was a right-arm medium pacer who could bat a bit lower down the order. He was not that good in Tests but was good in ODIs. The medium pacer stepped up in big tournaments and did well for the team. It was visible in the way he bowled in the ODI World Cup 1983. The right-arm pacer claimed 18 wickets in 8 innings at a bowling average of 18.66, a bowling SR of just 29.33, and an economy rate of 3.81. 

Binny was the leading wicket-taker in the entire tournament and played some crucial innings with the bat lower down the order. In the World Championship of Cricket in 1985, Roger played 4 matches and claimed 9 wickets at a great bowling average of 13.66, at an incredible bowling SR of 19.88, with an economy rate of 4.12. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the entire tournament. He played a key role in both of India’s wins of his time. 

Additionally, Roger helped India to win an away Test series in England in 1986. In India’s 2-0 win over the home side, Binny claimed 12 wickets in 6 innings at a bowling average of 20.91, at a good bowling SR of 43.66, including a fifer to his name. Roger played 27 Tests and 72 ODIs for India. He averaged 23.1 and 16.1 as a lower-order batter in Tests and ODIs, respectively.

While Roger claimed 47 Test wickets, there were 77 scalps to his name in ODIs. Outside of his playing days, Binny was instrumental in the development of KSCA. His input in the association helped Karnataka to build a robust domestic structure. In the last year or so, he has been the President of the BCCI. He has helped the board to maintain its cricket well and continued to impress everyone with his administrative skills.

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