New Delhi, August 5: Scoring a century in a debut match is a remarkable achievement in cricket. A.G. Kripal Singh accomplished this feat in his first international game. He inherited the passion for cricket from his family, as both his father and brother were cricketers.
Kripal Singh was born on August 6, 1933, in Chennai. His father, Ram Singh, was a former cricketer who played 56 first-class matches and participated in two unofficial Test matches for India. His elder brother, Milkha Singh, also represented India in four Test matches. This family background instilled a deep love for cricket in Kripal from an early age. He quickly made a name for himself in domestic cricket with his powerful batting and off-spin bowling, amassing 4,939 runs at an impressive average of 40 over 96 first-class matches, including 10 centuries and 24 half-centuries.
His consistent performance in domestic cricket earned him a spot on the Indian team in 1955. In his debut match against New Zealand, Kripal made an immediate impact, scoring an unbeaten 100 runs in his first innings. This century helped him gain recognition on the international stage. Over his career, he played 14 Test matches for India, scoring 422 runs at an average of 28, including one century and two half-centuries.
In 1961, Kripal played a Test match for India alongside his brother Milkha Singh against England. He was also one of the select players to captain the South Zone in the inaugural Duleep Trophy match, leading his team to victory thanks to his brother’s century.
During the 1963-64 series, the England team faced difficulties due to player illnesses and struggled to field a full team. In a unique turn of events, Kripal Singh stepped onto the field to assist the English team as a fielder. Tragically, he passed away from a heart attack at the young age of 53.
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