C. R. Rangachari

Who was C. R. Rangachari?

Commandur Rajagopalachari Rangachari was a fast bowler who represented India in Test cricket.

Rangachari was a medium pace bowler who bowled with a slight round-arm action and moved the ball away from the batsman. He was a student of the Pachaiyappa's College in Madras. When the Madras cricket league was started in 1932, he for Chepauk United Club and then switched to Triplicane CC. Here he formed a fearsome partnership with M.J. Gopalan.

Rangachari first claimed the spotlight when he took 9 for 45 against Mysore in an inter-association junior match in 1938. The same year he was selected to the Ranji team. Ranga was also a fine fielder, and fielding usually at silly mid-off, formed a nice combination with the spinner A.G. Ram Singh.

He was selected for the tour of Australia in 1947/48. He took a hat-trick in the match against Tasmania. On his debut at Adelaide he took 4 for 141, dismissing Neil Harvey, Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall and Ian Johnson. His career best bowling was 5 for 107 against West Indies at Delhi. Coming in as the first change bowler, he dismissed Allan Rae, Jeff Stollmeyer and George Headley in his first 19 balls conceding one run. Headley's leg stump was sent flying several yards and splintered from top to bottom. In his first five innings in Tests, his scores were 0*, 0, 0, 0,* and 0.