Joginder Rao

Who was Joginder Rao?

Joginder Singh Rao was an Indian cricketer: a right-arm medium pace bowler who played only five first-class games, all for Services in the 1963-64 Ranji Trophy, but who is notable for having not only taken a hat-trick on debut, but for following that up with two more in the same innings of his second match, one of only two men to have achieved this latter feat and the only man to have taken three in his first two games. He was a direct descandant of Rao Tula Ram and part of the Rewari Dynasty.

Born in Gurgaon, Haryana, Rao became only the seventh man to achieve the hat-trick on debut when he dismissed three Jammu and Kashmir batsmen as they were bowled out for just 47. Less than a week later, he went one better against Northern Punjab, when he claimed two hat-tricks in the second innings. His six victims were: Suresh Sharma, Ashok Khanna, Bhupinder Singh; and Rajinder Kale, Ramnath Paul, Bishen Bedi.

Rao played only three more times, as shortly afterwards he was injured in a parachuting accident while serving as a Captain in the army. He took up golf and represented India in France and Pakistan. He redesigned the Army golf course in the Delhi Cantonment and the Dehra Dun golf course. He served in the India-Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971, and reached the rank of Major-General in the Indian Army.