Devraj Puri

Devraj Puri (12 March 1916 – 31 December 1971) was an Indian cricketer and commentator. He played first-class cricket for several teams including Bengal and Delhi.^[1] He played one unofficial Test match for India against the Australians in 1935-36. After his playing career, he became a cricket commentator. In contemporary reports, his name often appears as Dev Raj Puri or D. R. Puri.

Devraj Puri

Personal information
Born	(1916-03-12)12 March 1916 Lahore, India
Died	31 December 1971(1971-12-31) (aged 55) Delhi, India
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast-medium
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1934/35–1944/45	Northern India
1941/42–1946/47	Bengal
1947/48	Delhi
1952/53	Uttar Pradesh
Career statistics
Competition FC Matches 18 Runs scored 274 Batting average 13.04 100s/50s 0/1 Top score 58 Balls bowled 2,459 Wickets 54 Bowling average 20.48 5 wickets in innings 2 10 wickets in match 1 Best bowling 6/28 Catches/stumpings 14/–
Source: CricketArchive, 13 May 2021

Biography

Devraj Puri was a bowler who was considered very fast in his early overs.^[2] He made his debut in first class cricket for Northern India in the first season of the Ranji Trophy. In his second match, he returned figures 4-1-3-3 as Southern Punjab were bowled out for 22 runs; it would remain the lowest team score in the tournament for more than 70 years.^[3] He took 6 wickets for 101 runs in the final against Bombay but Northern Punjab lost by 208 runs.^[4] In the 1935–36 season, Puri captained Punjab University to a win in the interuniversity Rohinton Baria Trophy.

Puri opened the bowling with Mohammad Nissar against the touring Australians in the third unofficial Test at Lahore in January 1936.^[5] A match report tells that Puri took a run-up of over 30 yards and "appeared to be faster than Nissar" but without the same control.^[6] He was not selected for the 1936 tour of England. According to his son Narottam Puri, Devraj Puri was invited for the trials in Delhi but not allowed to bowl a single ball apparently because he had played a few matches for the Maharaja of Patiala. Patiala was an adversary of the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram who was the captain of the touring side.^[2]

All India Radio invited Puri to do the radio commentary for the Delhi Test of the 1948-49 series against West Indies on the recommendation of the Nawab of Pataudi.^[7] He continued to be a commentator for twenty years. In the Bombay Test against Australia in November 1969, Puri criticised umpire Sambhu Pan's decision to give S. Venkataraghavan out.^[8] Several spectators were carrying transistor radios and Puri's comments contributed in inflaming a crowd riot. A part of the Brabourne Stadium was set on fire.^[9]

The Devraj Puri Trophy that was given for the North Zone winners in the Ranji Trophy was named after him.^[10] His son Narottam became a cricket commentator on radio and television.^[11]