L. P. Jai

Who was L. P. Jai?

Laxmidas Purshottamdas Jai was a major figure in Indian cricket between the wars.

Jai was a graceful right-handed stroke-player. Most of his finer innings came in the Bombay Quadrangular competition. He captained Bombay to the title in the first ever Ranji Trophy championship.

He was selected to tour England with the Indian team in 1932 but, along with Vijay Merchant and Champak Mehta, refused on political grounds. His only Test was the first ever in India. He toured England in 1936 but a broken finger restricted his appearances.

He was a selector in the 1950s, before resigning over a dispute during the 1958/59 series against West Indies. The trophy awarded to the scorer of the fastest hundred in Ranji trophy every season was named after him.