Vinoo Mankad Biography: Birthday, Early Life, Career, Honours, Death

Vinoo Mankad Biography: Mulvantrai Himmatlal “Vinoo” Mankad (12 April 1917 – 21 August 1978) was a former Indian cricket team captain who participated in 44 Test matches between 1946 and 1959. He was best known for his opening partnership of 413 runs with Pankaj Roy in 1956, a record that endured for 52 years, and for dismissing a batsman who was “backing up” at the non-strike end. Mankadding is named after him in cricket. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in June 2021.

Vinoo Mankad Biography

Early years

Thursday, April 12, 1917, Vinoo Mankad was born in Jamnagar, the former princely state of Nawangar (present-day Gujarat). The cricketers Albert Wensley and KS Duleepsinhji, nephew of the legendary batsman Ranjitsinhji, taught him how to bowl.

Usain Bolt Biography: Age, Birthday, Early Life, Career, Facts, Net Worth

Profession

He participated in 44 Tests for India as an opening batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, scoring 2109 runs at an average of 31.47, with a highest score of 231. He also captured 162 wickets at an average of 32.32, including eight hauls of five wickets. He is one of only three Test cricketers who have batted in every position. He was the first Indian to accumulate 1,000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets. He also amassed 1000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets in just 23 test matches, which was a then-world record that lasted for nearly a quarter century until Ian Botham surpassed it. According to Scyld Berry, he was the greatest left-arm spinner and all-around spinner in the world during his time.

Mankad was a highly esteemed all-rounder in India’s cricket history, having played 11 first-class matches in England prior to the series’ first Test. He made his début at Lord’s, opening the batting for India until England spinner Doug Wright bowled him out for 14 runs. Wisden praised Mankad’s performance, describing him as a “valuable all-round player” alongside compatriots Lala Amarnath and Vijay Hazare.

Mankad began his 1947–48 Australia tour with a five-wicket haul in the opening match of Western Australia’s first innings. In the second encounter against South Australia, he took four wickets and scored an unbeaten 116 runs. India, however, lost the match and the series 4–0. Mankad concluded the tour with 889 first-class runs at an average of 38.65, including three centuries, and 61 wickets, the most for India.

Mankad’s finest performance came against England at Lord’s in 1952, when he led the first innings scoring with 72 runs. He was the first Indian and the first player in over three decades to score a century and capture five wickets in the same Test. In 1956, he struck 231 against New Zealand in Chennai, establishing a world record opening stand of 413 runs.

In the 1961 season, Mankad played for Tonge in the Bolton Cricket League and took 54 wickets.

Honour

• In 1973, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, a civilian honour.
• In his honour, a thoroughfare has been named just south of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
• A monument was erected in his birthplace, Jamnagar, Gujarat, in his honour.
• Prior to the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final, he was one of ten inductees into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Death

Son of the legendary Vinoo Mankad, former Mumbai player Rahul Mankad passed away after a brief illness. He was 66 years old. Mankad leaves behind a wife and two daughters. Former Mumbai player Shishir Hattangadi verified the news of his death on Facebook, writing “Jigga Bhai, rest in peace, my friend Rahul Mankad” In London, Mankad passed away.