When he was taken to school for admission, the Principal — an Englishman — asked his name. When the boy said ‘Vijay Thakersey’, the Principal asked what the name meant. Little Vijay responded, “Sir, we are merchants.” The name Vijay Merchant stuck.
- This continued in the Ranji Trophy as well during the match between Bombay and Baroda, where Merchant scored 141 and Hazare 101.
- He had a good understanding of the game, and he knows what is required.
- Hemchudeshan, who had two 10-wicket hauls in a match in the Vijay Merchant tournament, wants to play in the Senior Division League of the TNCA and his goal is to play for the India U-19 team.
- Very few people are aware of the story behind Merchant’s real name, Vijaysingh Madhavji Thakersey.
- Vijay Merchant and Vijay Hazare had a gentle yet prolonged rivalry in between them.
- Vijay Merchant’s impact on Indian cricket goes far beyond statistics.
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Vijay Merchant, as great a player he was, he was no less a human being. He was a patriotic citizen doing all he could within his limits. Before Independence, he dropped out of an England tour because Mahatma Gandhi and many other freedom fighters were in jail. Four years later, he toured England just because the nationalist leaders were out of jail. This media hyped rivalry didn’t take a toll on both these players personally.
During the third Test between England and India in 1946, Merchant was run out by Denis Compton in a bizarre way. After a solid start from India for the first wicket, Merchant was the only one to stand at the crease for a long period and kept scoring runs. He was at 128 when Compton, an accomplished Arsenal footballer, kicked the cricket ball from mid-on and Merchant was run out. It will not be an exaggeration to call Merchant The Bradman of Ranji Trophy. Merchant scored 3,639 runs at 98.75 in the tournament, way ahead of Sachin Tendulkar (4,281 at 85.62). Vijay Merchant was known for his impeccable technique and ability to play long innings.
Vijay Merchant Trophy: Tamil Nadu in command vs Goa
Your alms to a beggar would satisfy his requirements temporarily, but I shall provide him a permanent solution,” said by the philanthropist Merchant. Vijay Merchant was more than just a cricketer—he was a visionary who saw cricket as a tool for national pride and social change. His dedication to the game, both on and off the field, ensured that his legacy lived on long after his retirement. After retirement, Merchant became a highly respected cricket commentator. His deep knowledge of the game and insightful analysis made him a favorite among fans.
Vijay Merchant had a long international career spanning over 18 years, but things didn’t go for this champ as expected. The coming years which could have made this genius an International highlight were lost in the Second World War when no cricket was played. It was followed by some serious health issues that restricted Merchant from going on tours to Australia and the West Indies. One feature of Merchant’s batting was his penchant for the late cut, an indication of a delicate touch that was quite unique. Significantly, Merchant is second behind Bradman in all-time first-class career averages, his 13,470 runs having come at 71.64 per innings. Headley’s first-class average was 69.86, having scored 9,921 runs.
The Vijay Merchant Trophy
His batting was built on sound footwork, precise timing, and an excellent defense. Unlike many Indian batsmen of his time, he was equally comfortable against both pace and spin. Vijay Merchant was one of the first top-notch cricketers of India and left a lasting legacy. Vijay Merchant, who passed away in Mumbai in 1987, was also born in the financial capital of India and would’ve been well over 100 years, had he been alive today.
He also missed tours to Australia and the West Indies due to poor health.[3] However, Merchant went out to score 154 in his last Test match against England in Delhi, which was also his highest Test score. A shoulder injury incurred while fielding in that game forced him to retire. All ten matches of Merchant’s Test career were against England. Vijay Merchant was one of the finest batsmen India has ever produced. A technically sound and elegant stroke-maker, he dominated domestic cricket and left a lasting impact on the sport despite playing only a handful of Test matches. His career was a testament to dedication, discipline, and unparalleled mastery over batting.
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Intriguing facts about Vijay Merchant- The pioneer of Mumbai Cricket
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The Englishmen were highly impressed by Vijay Merchant’s flawless batting in his debut series. Though he played only 10 Test matches, his look at these guys contribution to Indian cricket is immeasurable. His records in domestic cricket remain unmatched, and his guidance helped shape the careers of several Indian greats. The Hindus batting first put a large score of 581 mainly because of Merchant’s 250. The Rest stumbled for 133 in the first innings and for 387 in the second leading to an innings defeat.
From there his success and reputation grew and was soon called for the National side. His international career included two tours of England upon which he scored over 800 runs. B. Fry exclaimed “Let us paint him white and take him with us to Australia as an opener.”[3] His brother, Uday, also played first-class cricket. Vijay Merchant and Vijay Hazare had a gentle yet prolonged rivalry in between them. In the famous Bombay Pentangular tournament, Merchant scored 250 not out against the Rest and broke Hazare’s record of 242 set in the previous match. Hazare responded with a 309 not out in the next innings and Merchant, not to be left behind, scored 359 in a Ranji Trophy game against Maharashtra.
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