Devraj Puri

Devraj Puri was a bowler who was considered lightning quick 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, he 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 who was an adversary of the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram. Vizianagram 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]

Devraj Puri's son Narottam became a cricket commentator on radio and television.[10] The Devraj Puri Trophy that was given for the North Zone winners in the Ranji Trophy was named after him.[11]

• Devraj Puri at ESPNcricinfo