Away average was 43.
Averaged 51 in matches won (8), all in India.
Made 12 hundreds and 14 fifties.
Had the maximum tally of Tests, Test runs and centuries for India when he retired (much like Gavaskar and Tendulkar).
Captained India in 8 Tests (2 won, 4 drawn, 2 lost).
First Indian to score a double century (223 vs New Zealand, Hyderabad 1955).
Averaged 56 in the West Indies, 54 in Pakistan, just 18 in England. Did not play in Australia; averaged 21 against Australia at home.
Played 243 first class matches to score 16,155 runs (average 52) and take 325 wickets (average 26).
A colossus of his time for Indian cricket, Polly Umrigar was famous for the many innings he used to play when his team was in the doldrums. Adversity seemed to bring out his best - he saved many matches for India, was almost expected to do so. Unusual in Indian cricket for his size (a hefty six footer), he was also a greatly versatile cricketer - could bowl off-spin and outswingers, fielded in the sips and the outfield, and could bat equally well on the front and back foot. It was his adventurous spirit that made him different, and his overall record in the face of that is very impressive. However, England was the Achilles Heel for him - in 1952, despite scoring heavily in the tour games, he scored just 43 runs in 7 Test innings. Trueman and Bedser had his number but the humiliation was more in the manner of dismissals - backing away from the bowling at least thrice. Umrigar's future performances would dispel doubts about this purported weakness against fast bowling (including his century in England seven years later, with Trueman leading the attack) but his record in England (average of 18 in 8 Tests) remained the black spot in his distinguished career. After scoring 445 runs and taking 9 wickets in the 1962 West Indies tour (in 5 tests), Umrigar retired from international cricket, citing chronic back trouble as the reason, leaving the international scene on a high.
| India had lost all three Tests before this, and the 4th Test began with West Indies piling up 444-9 dec - Umrigar took 5 wickets for 107 with his off-breaks. Shortly, he had to come out to bat, with the score 25-4, another humiliation looming large. Soon it was 30-5, all five wickets to Wes Hall, who had his tail up, but also a little tired perhaps. With his captain Pataudi Jr, Umrigar took the score to 124 and then to 144, till he was out to Sobers for 56. India eventually managed 197 but had to follow on. In the second innings, | India collapsed from 163-1 to 192-4 when Umrigar walked out, three whole days to go and too much to do. He took charge but wickets kept falling periodically at the other end. It was 278-8 when Nadkarni joined him, and stayed for a while. Umrigar kept scoring - driving, hooking and pulling, giving India something to bowl at. Nadkarni went at 371; Umrigar added 51 with the last man - wicketkeeper Kunderan - where the latter's contribution was 4 till he was dismissed at 422. Umrigar got his hundred | in 156 minutes, his 150 in 203. He was eventually not out for 172, made in India's last 230 runs - a truly heroic effort. West Indies had 176 runs to make and they took over 100 overs to do, for just 3 wickets lost. There is no doubt who would have got the MoM award if it had existed in those times, remarkable, given that Umrigar's side was beaten so comprehensively eventually. Bizarrely, this was the second-last Test match of Umrigar's career. |
| India was 0-1 down before the 5th Test began. England batted first and were dismissed for 266 with Mankad taking 8-55. India began well, but from 157-2 slid to 216-5 when Umrigar walked in. and then began the departure from all scripts that had preceded this one. | Umrigar took the game away from England in the four and a half hours he was at the crease, scoring at will, and adding crucial runs with the tail. India declared at 457-9 with Umrigar unbeaten at 130. In a further departure from the script, England actually was | dismissed for 183 in 76 overs (Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed 4 wickets each). India's first ever Test victory after 20 years of Test cricket was by an innings and 8 runs. This was also the first time they did not lose a series. Heady times indeed. |
| The previous 3 Tests drawn - Pakistan bat first here but are dismissed for 188 (Mankad 5-63). Umrigar comes out at 30-1, soon it is 44-2, and Vijay Manjrekar joins him. They put on 91, Umrigar scores most of the runs. | Which he continues doing, right till his dismissal at 210 for 108 (with 13 fours). India is dismissed for 245 and Pakistan come out with the intention of occupying the crease and saving the match. They play out 122 overs | for 182 runs leaving India about 20-odd overs to make 126. In those days that wasn't even in the realm of possibility and India dourly survive 19 overs for 23 runs. |
| The series opener and India bat first. A good start is frittered away - from 110-1 to 158-4. Umrigar takes charge, and first with D Phadkar, then DK Gaekwad, stabilises the situation till his dismissal at 328 (for a wonderful 130). | India is buoyed enough to reach 417 but West Indies bat well too and achieve a 21-run lead. India is in trouble again at 106-4, till Umrigar gets into the act, again with Phadkar and Gaekwad. India make 294 and | West Indies are set 274 runs in about 60 overs. Again, this was not considered even worth attempting in those days, and despite losing no wicket West Indies just made 142 in 55 overs. |
| The fifth and last Test of the same series (as above) - with India 0-1 down. India bat first and are 80-3 when Umrigar joins Pankaj Roy. They add 150 runs together in contrasting styles - Roy correct and watchful, Umrigar freer and sometimes belligerent. | After Roy is dismissed at 230 (for 85), Manjrekar digs in with Umrigar, who is finally dismissed at 277 for a memorable 117. India manages 312 (thanks to Manjrekar's 43) but West Indies pile up 576. In the second innings, it is Roy and Manjrekar who | take control of the game, at the fall of the first wicket with centuries each. India makes 444 and leaves the West Indians 181 to make in about 50 overs. They manage 92-4 in 47 and win the series 1-0. |
