India's first captain, and probably the country's first cricket superstar, Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu was a colossus of Indian cricket. He rose to international fame and nationwide adulation in that 'Era of Princes', since making his debut at the age of 21, playing for Hindus in the Quadrangular tournament of 1916.

In that match he played as a bowler and took four wickets for 97 runs. His first scoring shot was a six, which established him as a batsman. He was a batsman who was always ready to go for his shots. A tall, erect player, with an almost military-like bearing, he epitomised aggressive batsmanship, fielding and captaincy. His ability to smite sixes nonchalantly sent crowds into delirium.

Nayudu burst on the cricketing scene with a scintillating 153 in 116 minutes for Hindus against Gilligan`s Marylebone Cricket Club. The knock incuded 11 sixes, which equalled the world record! It was the stuff legends are made of and he soon earned the nickname of 'Indian Bradman'.

He never really cared for records. This foreword he wrote to the inaugural issue of Indian Cricket, in 1946, sums up the man and his philosophy.

"Our age is an age of business, and cricket has not escaped the fatal touch of commercialism. There is a tendency to regard statistics as the best indication of a player's ability. This has led to the emergence of the school of stonewallers. Cricket must be played in harmony with it inherent genius, with wild and free abandon. Let our players attack the bowlers and provide the spectators with a feast of strokeplay. If cricket, like life, is full of uncertainties, why make it a dull affair."

By 1931, Nayudu was in the prime of his career and even earned an accolade from an astounded Jack Hobbs when he visited India the previous year.

The stage was set for India's tour of England in 1932 after duly gaining Test status in 1931. Of course, despite Nayudu's overwhelming credentials to captain the side, royals threw their hats in the ring. The Maharaja of Patiala and the Maharajkumar of Vizianagaram were the powers-that-be in Indian cricket and the choice had to be between them. In typical fashion, Patiala was appointed captain and the Prince of Limbdi (a Patiala loyalite) was "deputy captain" while Vizzy had to be content with "deputy vice-captain"! Patiala withdrew at the last minute -- being busy with affairs of state -- and the Maharaja of Porbander was appointed skipper.

Porbander relinquished captaincy on the English tour and it was passed on to Limbdi, who, as luck would have, it injured his back on the eve of the first Test. The captaincy was finally passed down to the man who deserved it most, Nayudu.

India had major injury problems before the first Test and it was a surprise to many when Nayudu set an attacking field for his pacemen Nissar and Amar Singh. Holmes and Sutcliffe came in to bat for England, fresh from a world record 555 opening partnership, and they were expected to take the Indian attack to the cleaners. What happened next was beyond the wildest imagination of any Indian supporter.

Within 30 minutes of the Lord's Test, on a bright sunny morning, England were 19 for 3... and gasping! A beauty from Nissar, which moved very late, clipped Sutcliffe's bail and Holmes's off-stump was sent cartwheeling by Mohammad Nissar, who was reveling at the headquarters of cricket! Woolley came a cropper to the agility of Lal Singh, who swooped down on the ball in the covers and his lovely pick and throw reached the keeper Nawle, right on top of the stumps before the startled stalwart Woolley could make his ground.

Thereafter, Nayudu applied relentless pressure and rang in bowling changes with unerring precision, despite his meagre bowling resources, and it was a sight to see the rattled Englishmen clinging on to dear life at the wicket. The hunter had become the hunted in his own lair. However, poor batting let India down as they went on to lose the Test.

Mustaq Ali rated Nayadu as the best captain he had played under. "He was the very definition of a cricket captain. He was intelligent, imaginative and adventurous. He knew fully well how to use the limited resources at his command. He was a strict disciplinarian who always supported his players to the hilt. He had a thorough knowledge of the game and its finer points. He had also this knack of detecting a flaw or two in the rival batsmen and bowlers. He was also a good 'reader' of the wicket," said the Indian opener on the 1936 England tour.

Indeed, Nayudu was simply superb throughout the tour, aggregating 1600 runs, with six centuries, at an average of over 40. As a bowler, he kept one end bottled up with his tight off-spin and claimed 65 wickets on the tour at an average cost of 25 runs apiece. Only strike bowlers Nissar and Amar Singh took more wickets on the tour. The final score-line after the tour ended was 26 matches played - 9 won - 8 drawn - 9 lost.

Wisden immediately recognised his genius and named him as one of their five 'Cricketers of the Year'.

Tales of Nayudu's grit abound. He educated himself to bear physical pain. Once, in a Ranji Trophy match, he was struck on the mouth by a ball which broke two front teeth. He refused medical assistance, brushed the teeth off the wicket with his bat and got on with the match.

He played his last official Test on the 1936 England tour and Indian cricket was indefinably poorer for that. E W Swanton had once described him as "the side's most cultured and dangerous player". He made over 10,000 runs in his first class career, which spanned an amazing 47 years. His career-best innings was 200 in the Ranji trophy, made in his 51st year.

Career Stats:
Tests Batting:

M	Inn	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct	St
7	14	0	350	81	25.00	0	2	4	0

Note: He also claimed 9 wkts at an average of 42.88

First Class record

M	Inn	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	Ct	St
207	344	15	11825	200	35.94	26	170	1

Images: Getty Images

Next: Vijay Merchant

Also read:
1897 - K S Ranjitsinhji
1930 - K S Duleepsinhji
1932 - Iftikar ali Khan (Nawab of Pataudi Sr.)