When four captains led India in a Test series

When four captains led India in a Test series

When the West Indies team led by Gerry Alexander arrived in India in November 1958 for a five-Test series hardly anyone would have predicted a comfortable victory for the tourists. After the first Test at Bombay was drawn, West Indies scored thumping victories at Kanpur, Calcutta and Madras before India just about salvaged a draw at New Delhi. The defeat at Calcutta by an innings and 336 runs remains till today the heaviest loss suffered by India. Political machinations were in full swing, there were several seamy off field happenings and all this led to players being dropped and picked without any rhyme or reason. The upshot was that as many as 24 cricketers played in the five Tests and four captains led India in the five Tests. 

Ghulam Ahmed was chosen captain for all the five Tests but only through the casting vote of the chairman Lala Amarnath. Ghulam did not exactly make things easier by withdrawing from the first Test at Bombay citing an injury.  Polly Umrigar was named in his place and India earned a honourable draw after being at the receiving end for most of the game. Ghulam was back for the second Test at Kanpur but an expected defeat by 203 runs after a draw was very much on the cards on the final day sullied his image as a leader.

All hell now broke loose and the poor performances were rapidly becoming a subject for national concern.  Ghulam had announced his retirement following the Calcutta calamity.

The selectors fell back on Umrigar When announcing their choice Amarnath had said that Ghulam’s place would go to either Kripal Singh or Jasu Patel depending on the wishes of the new captain. But two more vacancies occurred on the eve of the match. CD Gopinath had been injured in the pre-Test game between the visitors and South Zone and he reported unfit while Vijay Manjrekar cabled to inform that he too had been injured in a Ranji Trophy game and would not be able to play. Chandu Borde originally named 12^th man and Kripal Singh were called upon to fill the first two vacancies. For the third position Umrigar asked for Manohar Hardikar who had played in the first two Tests to be flown from Bombay. Hardikar however could not obtain a seat on the last possible flight and Umrigar’s choice thereupon was AK Sen Gupta the young opening batsman from Services who had scored an unbeaten century in the opening match of the tour and was among the original reserves. About this time – and it was the evening before the match was to commence – only one selector C Ramaswami was in Madras. The selection for the last place was not left to the captain or Ramaswami but was dictated by the Board President RK Patel that Jasu Patel was to be played.

Umrigar told the Board officials present that Manjrekar’s absence called for the selection of another batsman and when they refused to be convinced Umrigar threatened to resign the captaincy. His resignation

pinned the Board officials on the defensive. It was then decided that Vinoo Mankad should take over the captaincy. By the time the arrangement was arrived at dawn was only a few hours away.

Mankad’s appointment however was only a temporary arrangement. A new captain had to be picked for the final Test at New Delhi and after showing an interest in GS Ramchand the selectors finally appointed Hemu Adhikari. He halted the West Indian juggernaut and India scrambled to a draw at the Kotla.

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