| Devraj Puri | |
| Birth Date: | 12 March 1916 |
| Birth Place: | Lahore, India |
| Death Place: | Delhi, India |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Club1: | Northern India |
| Club2: | Bengal |
| Year2: | 1941/42–1946/47 |
| Date: | 13 May 2021 |
| Club3: | Delhi |
| Year3: | 1947/48 |
| Club4: | Uttar Pradesh |
| Year4: | 1952/53 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | FC |
| Matches1: | 18 |
| Runs1: | 274 |
| Bat Avg1: | 13.04 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/1 |
| Top Score1: | 58 |
| Deliveries1: | 2,459 |
| Wickets1: | 54 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 20.48 |
| Fivefor1: | 2 |
| Tenfor1: | 1 |
| Best Bowling1: | 6/28 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 14/– |
| Source: | https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/11/11453/11453.html CricketArchive |
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 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]