India’s first Test 200 turns 70: A legacy began with 'Mumbaikar' Polly Umrigar

Shreyasi

Polly Umrigar [Source: X/@NorthStandGang]Polly Umrigar [Source: X/@NorthStandGang]

Polly Umrigar was among the notable early superstars of Indian cricket alongside the greats like Vinoo Mankad and Lala Amarnath. When he retired, he held several significant records for India in Test cricket- the most Test matches played, the highest aggregate runs, and the most centuries scored.

On 20th November 1955, Umrigar reached a new territory. He achieved a milestone unattained by an Indian cricketer previously. It came during India’s first Test match against New Zealand, and the venue was the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad.

The backdrop

In 1933, Lala Amarnath had scored the first-ever Test century for India against the touring England team in the first-ever Test match on Indian soil. For the next 22 years, several prominent Indian cricketers registered some memorable hundreds, but none of them could cross the 200-run mark in Test cricket.

Meanwhile, Umrigar made his international debut in 1948 against the West Indies and recorded his first Test hundred during the first Test win over England in 1952. By 1955, he had become one of the mainstays of the team with five Test centuries already to his name.

The opening Test of 1955 began on November 19 with India winning the toss and deciding to bat first. There was an early blow. The innings began on a shaky note after Pankaj Roy was dismissed without scoring, leaving the team at 1 for 1.

Umrigar joined Vinoo Mankad in the middle. They stitched together 47 runs for the second wicket before Mankad was dismissed for 30. The next Mumbaikar to join Umrigar to bat was Vijay Manjrekar.

The duo displayed sheer grit and composure. They batted confidently and made the New Zealand bowlers look hapless. By the end of day one, the partnership remained unbroken on 202 runs as India reached 250/2. Both Umrigar and Manjrekar registered their individual hundreds, scoring 112 and 102, respectively.

A historic feat by Polly Umrigar registered on this day

When the play resumed on day two, Manjrekar was dismissed early for 118, handling Johnny Hayes his second wicket. The young debutant AG Kripal Singh walked in to join Polly Umrigar. Despite the early blow of the day, Umrigar remained focused and unshaken. His concentration was unmatched.

Kripal Singh's arrival brought stability. The runs began to flow freely, quickly pushing India's total towards 400. Umrigar’s innings progressed steadily. He approached a historic and significant feat. Umrigar became the first Indian cricketer to score a double hundred in Test cricket, ending a 23-year wait since India’s debut Test in 1932.

Image source: X/@NorthStandGangImage source: X/@NorthStandGang

Haynes eventually broke the partnership and dismissed the star batter for 223. With Kripal Singh also marking his debut memorable with a Test century, India declared their innings at an imposing total of 498.

Umrigar was often India’s shining armour during his playing days, coming up with heroics even when the team faced defeat. Even his double hundred, first for India in a Test, could not secure a win for the team. Although India enforced the follow-on, the Test against New Zealand ultimately ended in a draw.

Nevertheless, the match remains notable for the extraordinary efforts and composure displayed by Polly Umrigar despite the early setbacks to register a landmark feat in Indian cricket.