Vijay Laxman Manjrekar, born on April 4, 1931, in Bombay, India, was a highly talented and skilled cricketer known for his proficiency in playing fast bowling. His career spanned over a decade, during which he proved himself to be a formidable batsman in a time when India had only a handful of players adept at facing pace.
Making his Test debut at the age of 20 against England in 1951-52 in Calcutta, Manjrekar immediately showcased his exceptional abilities. However, it was his first Test in England, at Headingley in June 1952, that truly catapulted him into the limelight. Facing the lethal duo of Fred Trueman and Alec Bedser, with Jim Laker still to come, Manjrekar, batting at number four, joined hands with his captain, Vijay Hazare, in a match-rescuing fourth-wicket partnership of 222 runs. This partnership remains a record between India and England, and it solidified Manjrekar’s reputation as a top-quality batsman.
Despite struggling with weight issues later on in his career, Manjrekar possessed nimble footwork and natural talent, making him a dangerous opponent and a delight to watch. Like many great Indian batsmen, he was small in stature but possessed remarkable skills in both cutting and hooking. His dexterity with these shots often left bowlers befuddled.
Manjrekar’s standout performances include his series against New Zealand in India in 1955-56, where he amassed 386 runs with an average of 77.20. Another exceptional series was against England in India in 1961-62, where he scored a remarkable 586 runs with an average of 83.71. He notched up a total of seven Test centuries, the highest being his magnificent knock of 189 against England in Delhi during the 1961-62 series. Strikingly, Manjrekar also scored a century in his last Test innings against New Zealand in Madras in February 1965.
Although primarily recognized for his batting prowess, Manjrekar also possessed other cricketing skills. He showcased his talent as an occasional offspinner, a dependable wicketkeeper, and a superb fielder, especially in the covers. Such versatility added immense value to the teams he played for, including Bombay, Bengal, Andhra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, in the prestigious Ranji Trophy.
In his Ranji Trophy career, Manjrekar accumulated 3,734 runs at an impressive average of 57.44, including twelve centuries. His valuable contributions to Bombay’s triumph in the 1964-65 season, where his scores of 59 and 39 played a crucial role in India’s first-ever Test victory over Australia, further demonstrated his worth as a team player.
Vijay Laxman Manjrekar’s cricketing legacy continued through his son, Sanjay Manjrekar, who also went on to represent India in Test matches. Sadly, Vijay Manjrekar passed away on October 18, 1983, in Madras, while attending a gathering of sportsmen. However, his contributions to Indian cricket will forever be remembered as he remains one of the finest batsmen of his era.
In recognition of his exceptional achievements, Vijay Manjrekar’s name lives on in the annals of cricket history, serving as an inspiration for future generations of cricketers in India.
