OTD| One of India’s greatest batters, Vijay Hazare was born in 1915

Former Indian stalwart Vijay Hazare was born on this day in 1915. A man from Sangli, Maharashtra became one of the ultimate guardians of Cricket in India. He is one of those early great men who nurtured, nourished, and helped Indian cricket flourish. Indian cricket and fans of the game in India owe a lot to this man, not just for his exemplary career but his role in the evolution of Indian cricket to a juggernaut. 

Vijay Hazare started playing first-class cricket in 1934/35. He made his international debut in 1946 at Lord’s when India toured England. It was a decent international debut for Hazare as he scored some runs and picked up a couple of wickets as well. Unfortunately, India could not win the match. 

He broke into international cricket very late in his career because of World War II, the game in India and worldwide came to a halt for a long time. However, even in the absence of international cricket, the progress of the game did not stop. Men like Vijay Hazare kept the game alive and flourishing in his country. 

Vijay Hazare – The Indian captain

Vijay Hazare was a legendary all-rounder who could contribute with both his bat and ball. His stats in first-class cricket are unbelievable. It is unfathomable how one could be so perfect in both skills. With the bat, he scored 18740 runs in 238 first-class matches at an extraordinary average of 58.38. If these stats are not enough to amaze you then take a look over his bowling credentials. He had 595 wickets in his first-class career at an average of 24.61. 

Hazare could not play a lot of international cricket but his stint was memorable. He represented India in 30 Tests, scoring 2192 runs at an average of 57.65. The Australian tour of 1947-48 will always be an integral part of his legacy. He also captained India in several games. The name Vijay Hazare will be an eternal part of Indian cricket’s consciousness as his contributions made Indian cricket transition from infancy to greatness.