Ranga Sohoni Explained

Ranga Sohoni
Full Name:Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni
Birth Date:5 March 1918
Birth Place:Nimbahera, British India
Death Place:Thana, Maharashtra, India
Batting:Right-handed
Columns:2
Column1:Test
Matches1:4
Runs1:89
Bat Avg1:16.60
100S/50S1:0/0
Top Score1:29*
Deliveries1:532
Wickets1:2
Bowl Avg1:101.00
Fivefor1:0
Tenfor1:0
Best Bowling1:1/16
Catches/Stumpings1:2/–
Column2:First-class
Matches2:109
Runs2:4,037
Bat Avg2:28.71
100S/50S2:8/20
Top Score2:218*
Deliveries2:15,634
Wickets2:232
Bowl Avg2:32.96
Fivefor2:11
Tenfor2:2
Best Bowling2:7/20
Catches/Stumpings2:69/–
International:true
Country:India
Testdebutagainst:England
Testcap:35
Testdebutdate:20 July
Testdebutyear:1946
Lasttestdate:14 December
Lasttestagainst:England
Lasttestyear:1951
Source:https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/757/757.html CricketArchive
Date:3 September
Year:2022

Sriranga Wasudev 'Ranga' Sohoni (5 March 1918 – 19 May 1993) was an Indian international cricketer. He was an all-rounder, who batted well under pressure and bowled relentlessly on South Asian surfaces.[1]

International Cricket

Sohoni toured England in 1946 and Australia in 1947/48 with the Indian team. He opened the bowling against England in the two Tests that he played on the former tour. At Old Trafford the last wicket partnership of Dattaram Hindlekar and Sohoni hung around for 13 minutes to avoid a defeat.[2]

Domestic Cricket

From 108 First-Class matches that spanned close to three decades, Sohoni scored 4,307 runs at 28.17 with 8 hundreds. He also picked up 232 wickets at 32.96 with 11 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls. In Ranji Trophy, his numbers were exceptional (42 matches, 2,162 runs at 34.87, 139 wickets at 24.49). Unfortunately, most of his twenties were taken away by World War II, which saw very little cricket.[1]

Sohoni played for Bombay, Maharashtra, and Baroda in the Ranji Trophy. He won titles with the first two teams and lost the 1948–49 final with Baroda. He captained Bombay and Maharashtra in eleven Ranji matches and captained Bombay in their win in 1953–54. Sohoni played for the Bombay University side between 1938–39 and 1940–41 and captained them in the second of those years. He also appeared in one unofficial Test.

In Ranji Trophy, his finest season was 1940–41 when he helped Maharashtra retain their title. Against Western India in the zonal final, he scored a career best 218* and put on 342* for the fourth wicket with Vijay Hazare, then an Indian record for any wicket. In the last innings of the final against Madras, he hit 104 on a crumbling wicket. He scored 655 runs in the Ranji season, a new record, at an average of 131 and 808 in all first class matches with five hundreds.

Personal and professional life

Sohoni "was tall, fair skinned and light eyed" with "film star looks". He was offered a role in movies by V. Shantaram .

He was a pro in Lancashire League with Lower House Club. He did B.A(Hons) and served in various government departments before retiring as a class I officer in the government of Maharashtra.

His death was due to a heart attack.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mukherjee. Abhishek. Ranga Sohoni: Maharashtra’s champion all-rounder. Cricket country. 8 February 2017.
  2. Web site: England v India, Old Trafford, Manchester on 20th, 22nd, 23rd July 1946 . CricketArchive . 26 March 2024 . subscription.