C.K.Nayudu – The Pioneer of Indian Cricket
The MCC cricket team traveled to India under the captaincy of Arthur Gilligan and played 26 first-class matches between October 1926 and March 1927. One of the matches was played at Bombay Gymkhana between MCC and Hindus. C.K.Nayudu played a gem of an innings against Mercer, Geary, Tate, and Astill. He spent 116 minutes on the crease and scored 153 runs which included 11 sixes. The MCC awarded him a silver bat in recognition of that brilliant knock. Arthur Gilligan was highly impressed with C.K.Nayudu’s batting and overall performances of India as well. He recommended the Test status for India and had a discussion with Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh on the future roadmap of Indian cricket. Soon BCCI was formed in December 1928. When India went to England to play the first Test match at Lord’s in 1932, C.K.Nayudu walked with Douglas Jardine for the toss. India became the 6th Test-playing nation of the world.
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