A Tribute to VM Muddaiah – the former international cricketer from Mysore/Karnataka

VM Muddaih breathed his last today morning {01.10.09} at his farm near Bangalore. His last days were not comfortable as he had last his eyesight and had to depend on his kith and kin for his daily routine. He had a heart attack some time back and recovered well, but destiny took him away this morning. He was born on 08.06.29 and on the day of his demise he was 80 years 3 months and 23 days old.

Venkatappa Musandra Muddaih represented India in two tests. He made his test debut against Australia at Delhi in 1959-60. He went wicket less in this test to return with bowling figures of 13.0-0-32-0. With the willow he remained not out without scoring.

In his second test, against Pakistan at Kanpur in 1960-61, he captured three wickets in the match – one in the first innings and two in the second innings. His first test victim was Mushtaq Ahmed whom he had caught by Polly Umrigar for 13. His bowling figures in the first innings read 22.0-6-62-1. In the second innings, he returned with figures of 18.0-7-40-2 and bagged the two wickets of Pakistan openers that fell in Pakistan’s second innings – that of Hanif Mohammad caught by ML Jaisimha for 19 and Imtiaz Ahmed caught by NJ Contractor for 16.

He represented Services, Mysore and Hyderabad in Ranji Trophy. His first class career read as under

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	50	100
61	71	13	805	67	13.87	4	0
Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	Ct	St
9918	435	4159	175	8-54	23.76	62	0

He made his Ranji debut against Southern Punjab representing Services in 1949-50 season. In the first innings, he made 1 with the willow and captured 8 for 54 with the leather. In the second innings, he made zero and captured 4 for 43. His match figure read 12 for 97. He earned the distinction of capturing eight wickets in an innings and ten plus wickets in a match

VM Muddaih with his 8 for 54 on debut against Southern Punjab became the first Indian bowler to capture eight wickets in the first innings of a match in the first class matches played all over the world.

He registered his highest individual score of 67 in the first innings against Delhi representing Services at Delhi in 1961-62. He was leading Services in this game and his 67 came while batting at number 9. It was his 55^th first class match. He registered four half centuries which read thus –

1	67	Services v Delhi	22 Nov 1961
2	56	Mysore v Hyderabad	22 Dec 1951
3	56	Hyderabad v Commonwealth XI	22 Jan 1954
4	51	Mysore v Madras	25 Jan 1952

With the leather he captured 175 first class wickets at an average of 23.76 runs per wicket. He had ten five wicket hauls in his first class career with a career best innings figures of 8 for 54 on his debut. His ten five wicket hauls are listed below

No	0	M	R	W	Match	Date
1	14.5	0	54	8	Services v Southern Punjab	11 Dec 1949
2	10.5	2	22	6	Mysore v Bombay	22 Feb 1952
3	22	8	56	5	Services v Eastern Punjab	01 Dec 1955
4	22	6	54	5	Services v PEPSU	13 Jan 1957
5	35	6	73	5	Services v Patiala	24 Dec 1957
6	21	9	36	6	Indians v Cambridge University	06 May 1959
7	27	10	79	6	Indians v Glamorgan	16 May 1959
8	4	2	2	5	Services v Jammu and Kashmir	08 Nov 1961
9	39	6	130	5	Services v Railways	26 Nov 1961
10	19	2	71	6	North Zone v MCC	08 Dec 1961

His figure of 4.0-2-2-5 for Servives against Jammu and Kashmir remains as an outstanding bowling analysis in the National Championship Ranji Trophy. He is the only bowler to capture five wickets conceding two runs in the Ranji Trophy. He was leading Services in this game.

He was a member of the Indian team that toured England in 1959. He played against Visiting teams that toured India. Representing Hyderabad he played against Commonwealth Eleven in 1953-54 {captured 4 for 105 which included the wicket of Raman Subba Row}, representing Indian Board President Eleven he played against New Zealanders in 1955-56. representing Services he played against West Indians in 1958-59, representing North Zone and Services {two separate games} against MCC in 1961-62

His farewell first class game was against MA Chidambaram Eleven representing Indian Air Force at Hyderabad in Moin-ud-dowlah Gold Cup tournament in 1962-63 {Semi finals}

He represented the following teams in his first class career – India, Services, Mysore, Hyderabad, Indian Board President Eleven, Indians, North Zone and Indian Air Force

After retirement from first class cricket, he was a commentator on All India Radio panel of Bangalore station and officiated as a commentator in a couple of Ranji Trophy matches.

He holds the distinction of becoming the first international cricketer from a “Gowda” family from Bangalore.

His nephew BT Sathish represented Karnataka in Ranji Trophy. Sathish played for Syndicate Bank in the league matches in Bangalore.