Pradyumansinhji Lakhajirajsinhji, 14th Thakore Saheb of Rajkot

Who is Pradyumansinhji Lakhajirajsinhji, 14th Thakore Saheb of Rajkot?

Pradyumansinhji Lakhajirajsinhji, 14th Thakore Saheb of Rajkot was an Indian nobleman, who was ruler of the princely state of Rajkot from June 1940 until the abolition of princely titles in 1971. The third son of Lakhajirajsinhji II Bavajirajsinhji, 12th Thakore Saheb of Rajkot, Pradyumansinhji succeeded his older brother, Dharmendrasinhji, to the title, after his death on 11 June 1940. Like his father, who played three first-class matches, he had a keen interest in cricket, and was a patron of the game. Pradyumansinhji made his first-class debut in December 1936, playing for Western India against Gujarat in the 1936–37 Ranji Trophy. A regular player, he served as captain of Western India from the 1940–41 season to its dissolution after the 1945–46 season, a result of his title rather than cricketing ability. From the 1946–47 season to his retirement after the 1950–51 season, he was captain of the Kathiawar team, which from the 1951–52 season played as Saurashtra, representing the eponymous region of India.

Pradyumansinhji played almost exclusively as a batsman, although he usually batted in the lower order. He made two half-centuries during his career, with his highest score, an innings of 77 runs, achieved against Maharashtra during the 1948–49 Ranji Trophy. This match was particularly notable for its conclusion, with Pradyumansinhji deciding to concede the match at tea on the third day. Maharashtra were 826/4, with B. B. Nimbalkar having scored 443 not out, the first quadruple century in Indian first-class cricket, and nine runs behind Sir Donald Bradman's world record score of 452 not out. In a move regarded as highly unsporting, Pradyumansinhji forfeited the match to prevent his team being associated with the breaking of such a record. His last first-class match was played in December 1950. Outside of cricket, Pradyumansinhji lost most of his power after Indian independence in 1947, when Rajkot was incorporated into United State of Kathiawar. Rajkot's former territory would later become part of Bombay State and Gujarat. After a 1971 amendment to the Constitution of India, Pradyumansinhji was stripped of any legal recognition of his titles, although he maintained them as a courtesy until his death in November 1973. His son, Manoharsinhji, succeeded him as Thakore Saheb, and also played first-class cricket for Saurashtra.