L. P. Jai

L. P. Jai
Personal information
Full name	Laxmidas Purshottamdas Jai
Born	4 January 1902; Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India
Died	29 January 1968 (aged 66); Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Nickname	Lallubhai
Batting	Right-hand bat
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	India (1933);
Only Test (cap 13)	15 December 1933 v England
Domestic team information
1920–1941	Hindus
1926–1941	Bombay
Career statistics
	Source: ESPNcricinfo, 13 May 2020

Laxmidas Purshottamdas Jai pronunciation (help·info) (1 April 1902 – 29 January 1968) was a major figure in Indian cricket between the wars.^[2]

Jai was a graceful right-handed stroke-player. Most of his finer innings came in the Bombay Quadrangular competition. He captained Bombay to the title in the first ever Ranji Trophy championship.

He was selected to tour England with the Indian team in 1932 but, along with Vijay Merchant and Champak Mehta, refused on political grounds. His only Test was the first ever in India. He toured England in 1936 but a broken finger restricted his appearances.

He was a selector in the 1950s, before resigning over a dispute during the 1958/59 series against West Indies. The trophy awarded to the scorer of the fastest hundred in Ranji trophy every season was named after him.

Career[]

As was the case with cricketers prior to commercial sponsorships, Jai was employed by the Imperial Bank of India, later State Bank of India, by way of a job for life. This helped to nurture his hobby, philately. He became an eminent philatelist, being in a position to "rescue" every stamped envelope that came to the bank every day. He specialised in British Empire stamps.

Jai died on 29 January 1968 in Bombay from cardiac arrest.^[1]