| Balu Alaganan | |
| Country: | India |
| Fullname: | Balu Alaganan |
| Birth Date: | 1925 |
| Death Place: | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Club1: | Madras |
| Year1: | 1946/47–1954/55 |
| Date: | 22 June 2016 |
| Source: | ESPNcricinfo |
R. B. Alaganan (1925 – 11 October 2012), better known as Balu Alaganan, was an Indian cricket player, administrator and commentator. He played six first-class matches for Madras and captained the team to its maiden Ranji Trophy title. A well-known radio commentator, he also worked in administrative roles for the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.
Alaganan was born in 1925 and hailed from a planting family in Bodinayakkanur. He completed his schooling at S. Thomas' College, Ceylon,[1] and graduated from the Madras Christian College.[2]
An all-rounder[3] who batted in the middle-order, Alaganan represented Madras in six first-class matches between 1946 and 1955. He was the captain of the Madras team that won its maiden Ranji Trophy title in 1954–55.[4] He retired after the season and turned to radio commentary. As a commentator he was described by The Hindu as "a lucid, to-the-point narrator, imparting to his observations the weight of experience and expertise that underlined an academic, intellectual approach."[2]
Alaganan also worked in administrative roles after retirement. He worked as the vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) from 1961 to 1986. He also became the president of Madras Cricket Club in 1967.[1] In 1988, he became the president of TNCA and held the position until 1993.[2] After having worked as a selector, he worked as the assistant team manager of India on its tours to New Zealand and West Indies in the 1975–76 season, with Polly Umrigar as the manager.[5]
Alaganan also won club-level titles in golf and tennis. He was the first Indian member and Indian president of the Kodaikanal Club.[1]
Alaganan died on 11 October 2012 at his house in Chennai. He was married and had a son and two daughters.[6]