He bowled with an action that was classically side-on. From a pleasing high-arm release, this lanky off-spinner tested the batsmen’s technique and temperament.
Whether troubling those facing him with sharp and precise off-spinners or nailing them with compelling leg-cutters, the man from Tamil Nadu was a versatile bowler.
February 27 marks a special occasion for Srinivas Venkataraghavan. It was on this day 50 years ago in 1965 that he made his Test debut as a talented 19-year-old against New Zealand in Madras’ Corporation ground.
“It has been a long and fulfilling journey. Cricket has given me everything; given me a chance to compete with the best, travel to different countries, meet some great people and take home some wonderful memories,” said Venkataraghavan to The Hindu here on Thursday.
Venkataraghavan was not only a respected former India off-spinner and captain, but also a successful international umpire, administrator, ICC match referee and Indian team manager.
He scalped 156 batsmen in 57 Tests, his best match-haul being a match-winning 12 wickets in the 1965 New Delhi Test against New Zealand. Venkataraghavan also umpired in 73 Tests and 52 ODIs, including three World Cups.
Presently, he heads the BCCI panel on suspect bowling actions.
He is the most complete cricketing personality to emerge from the State and, perhaps, the country.
“I like the cerebral aspect of cricket. Umpiring gave me an opportunity to give something back to the game. It was a fresh challenge. The players respected me because I had played so much cricket,” Venkataraghavan said.
He was a part of India’s legendary spin quartet, with Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and Bishan Singh Bedi being the other bowlers.
“I cannot describe in words the experience of bowling with them. That feeling has to be experienced. We supported and complemented each other. We never competed against each other,” the 69-year-old said.
The highlight of Venkat’s career was his outstanding bowling in India’s path-breaking back-to-back away Test series triumphs in the West Indies and England in ’71. The off-spinner claimed 35 wickets in the two historic series.
He was particularly influential in the second innings of the Port of Spain Test against the West Indies, bowling India to a sensational victory with five for 95.
Ajit Wadekar, India’s captain in those two epoch-making series, comprehended the inherent strengths of Venkat’s bowling, stemming from his accuracy and control.
Venkataraghavan said: “For the first time, India became the unofficial No. 1 in Tests after winning the series in the West Indies and England for the first time.
“It gave us tremendous belief. We had beaten the best in the business on their home soil.”
With his catching at gully being brilliant, Venkataraghavan combined with Eknath Solkar, Abid Ali and Wadekar in a high quality Indian close-in cordon.
Given his attributes, it was not surprising that Venkat captained India in two World Cups, in 1975 and 1979, and the full tour of England in ’79.
He was a giant in the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu.
His famous spin partner V.V. Kumar said to this newspaper, “Venkat was a fierce competitor. He hated losing. He also has great values in life. We took more than 950 wickets together and never allowed the opposition to dominate us. He is a role model.”
It, indeed, has been a remarkable 50 years for Venkataraghavan.
