Who is known as the 'Father of Indian cricket'?

Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji (1872-1933), also known as "Ranji", is often called the "Father of Indian cricket". He was the first Indian to play Test cricket, though he played for England, not India.

About Ranjitsinhji:

He was born on 10 September 1872 at Sarodar in Kathiawar, Gujarat. He later became the Jam Sahib (ruler) of Nawanagar (now Jamnagar), a princely state, in 1907.

He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and played county cricket for Sussex.

He made his Test debut for England against Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester, in 1896, and scored a century (154 not out) in the second innings.

He played 15 Tests for England between 1896 and 1902.

He was famous for his elegant and inventive batting, especially the "leg glance", a shot played by deflecting the ball to the leg side with a turn of the wrists. He is credited with popularising the late cut and the leg glance.

In 1899, he became the first batsman to score 3,000 runs in an English first-class season.

He was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1897.

He later represented India at the League of Nations.

Honours in his name:

The Ranji Trophy, India's premier domestic first-class competition, was started in 1934-35 in his memory. The trophy was donated by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.

His nephew, Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, also played Test cricket for England; the Duleep Trophy is named after him.

Other "fathers" in Indian sport:

• K. Nayudu: India's first Test captain (1932).
• Lala Amarnath: independent India's first Test captain.

Why not the other options?

• ✗K. Nayudu was India's first Test captain.
• ✗Lala Amarnath scored India's first Test century and was the first captain of independent India.
• ✗Duleepsinhji was Ranjitsinhji's nephew, after whom the Duleep Trophy is named.