New Delhi, March 10: Vijay Samuel Hazare is celebrated as one of India’s greatest cricketers. He made significant contributions to both domestic and international cricket, strengthening the Indian team during its formative years. In his honor, India’s domestic One Day tournament is named after him.
Born on March 11, 1915, in Sangli, Maharashtra, Hazare was coached by the legendary Australian spinner Clarrie Grimmett in a rural setting. He began his first-class career in the 1934/35 season and made his international debut at the historic Lord’s ground against England in 1946 at the age of 31, scoring 31 and 34 runs in his two innings.
Hazare was the first Indian player to score over 1,000 runs and the first to achieve centuries in both innings of a Test match, scoring 116 and 145 runs against Australia in January 1948 at Adelaide. He also became the first Indian to score a triple century in first-class cricket, achieving this feat in January 1940 while playing for Maharashtra against Baroda.
With 50 centuries to his name, Hazare played 30 Test matches for India, amassing 2,192 runs at an average of 47.65, including 7 centuries and 9 half-centuries. Under his captaincy, independent India secured its first Test victory in 1952, defeating England by an innings and 8 runs.
In his first-class career, Hazare played a total of 238 matches, scoring 18,740 runs at an impressive average of 58.38, which included 60 centuries and 73 half-centuries. He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1960 and later received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. Today, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which started in the 2002-03 season, is contested by all teams participating in the Ranji Trophy.