Raj Singh Dungarpur
Raj Singh Dungarpur was a president of Board of Control for Cricket in India. He played first class cricket for 16 years and was in and out of the Board of Control for more than 20 years. He was a selector of the national team for two terms. He also managed the Indian cricket team four times on overseas tours.
Raj Singh Dungarpur was the person who introduced Sachin Tendulkar to the world. He was chairman of the selection committee that selected him to tour Pakistan as a member of the Indian cricket team when he was just 16. He is also credited for establishing the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.Biography
Maharaj Raj Singh was born in the erstwhile princely state of Dungarpur in Rajasthan on 19 December 1935. He was the youngest son of Maharawal Lakshman Singhji, the ruler of Dungarpur. He has two brothers, namely, Jaisinghji and Mahipalsinghji, and three sisters, one of whom is the Maharani of Bikaner. He studied at Daly College, Indore. He was the long-term romantic partner of Lata Mangeshkar, the legendary singer.
He played for Rajasthan and Central Zone, appearing in 86 first class cricket matches from 1955 to 1971, taking 206 wickets as a medium-pace bowler. In Rajasthan's victory over Vidarbha in 1967-68 he took his best figures of 7 for 88 and 5 for 55. He was appointed as the Manager of the Indian Cricket team on a number of occasions. He was also a keen wildlife enthusiast, and also a keen golfer.
He was also the president of Cricket Club of India for 13 years in Mumbai. He served as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India for two terms. His last cricketing stint was as the manager of the Indian team to Pakistan.
He died on 12 September 2009 after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer's disease, in Mumbai. His funeral was held at Dungarpur.
