New Delhi. Three generations of this prestigious family of sports have played for the country at the international level. Six members of the family have been associated with sports at the top level, out of which four have represented the country. Although more than two members of the Amarnath, Hazare and Naidu families have also played cricket, but four members of this family are associated with cricket and two with tennis. This is the Mankad family, whose third generation Harsh Mankad plays tennis for India. Harsh, who represented India in the Davis Cup and ATP Tour, was once the country’s number one player in singles. 44-year-old Harsh has now settled in America after retiring from tennis.
Harsh Mankad has inherited the game in a way. His grandfather Mulwant Rai Himmat Lal Mankad alias Vinoo Mankad was counted among the top all-rounders of the country before Kapil Dev. Vinoo was an excellent right-handed batsman and left-handed spinner. Vinoo’s son and Harsh’s father Ashok Mankad played international cricket. Harsh’s two uncles Atul and Rahul have also been first-class cricketers. Not only this, Ashok Mankad’s wife and Harsh’s mother Nirupama has also been a top tennis player and has played for the country.
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Vinoo has started batting and bowling for India
Talking about Vinoo Mankad, his record as an all-rounder has been impressive. Born on 12 April 1917 in Jamnagar, Gujarat, Vinoo scored 2107 runs at an average of 31.47 in 44 Tests and took 162 wickets at an average of 32.32. He was skilled in both batting and bowling. Vinoo scored five centuries in Test cricket, including two double centuries. As a left-arm spinner, he took five or more wickets in an innings 8 times and 10 or more wickets in a match twice.
In the Lord’s Test against England in June 1952, Vinoo performed so well that this match is remembered as Vinoo Mankad VS England Test instead of India Vs England. The Indian team lost this test by 8 wickets but Vinoo won everyone’s heart with his all-round performance. He scored 72 runs in the first innings and 184 runs in the second innings, and also took the maximum of 5 wickets during England’s first innings. Vinoo also holds the interesting record of batting at all positions from 1 to 11 for India.
In cricket, the special method of running out a batsman when the non-striker leaves the crease before the bowler bowls the ball was named ‘Mankading’ after Vinoo. In Test cricket, Vinoo was the first to run out Australian batsman Bill Brown in this manner. However, getting a batsman out in this manner is now considered as a ‘run out’. Vinoo, who scored more than 11 thousand runs and took 782 wickets in 233 first-class cricket matches, died at the age of 61.
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After Vinoo, Ashok Mankad played cricket for India
After Vinoo, the tradition of playing cricket for India was carried forward by his elder son and Harsh’s father Ashok Mankad (late). Ashok was counted among the stylish batsmen of the country but he could not be very successful in international cricket (1969-1978). In the inter-school cricket Harris Shield, Ashok had shown signs of becoming a big batsman by scoring 348, 328 and 258 runs but later he could not maintain this level. Ashok, who scored 12980 runs in 219 first class matches at an impressive average of 50.90, could only score 991 runs (6 fifties, average 25.41) in 22 tests. He also played one ODI for the country and took one wicket in it besides scoring 44 runs.
When he was called ‘Tuk-Tuk’ for his slow batting, he responded by scoring the fastest century in Tests
Atul and Rahul Mankad also played first class cricket
Ashok’s two younger brothers Atul and Rahul have also been first class cricketers. However, the career of both of them did not last long. Atul Mankad, three years younger than Ashok, played three matches for Saurashtra and scored 38 runs, while Rahul, 9 years younger than him, scored 2111 runs with the help of 5 centuries in 47 matches and his average was 35.77. Rahul Mankad also has 7 wickets to his name as a left-arm spinner. Ashok, Atul and Rahul, all three have passed away.
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Ashok was married to tennis star Nirupama
Ashok Mankad was married to Nirupama (name Nirupama Vasant before marriage) who has been an Asian tennis champion. Nirupama won this title in 1965 at the age of just 17 years. Nirupama, who played tennis from 1964 to 1979, was the first Indian woman of the modern era to make it to the main draw of a Grand Slam event. Nirupama, who played in the mixed doubles category of Wimbledon in pair with Anand Amritraj, has also been the country’s number one player in singles. Nirupama was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1980 for her contribution to women’s tennis.
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Nirupama-Ashok’s son Harsh played tennis for India
Taking forward the legacy of his parents, Nirupama and Ashok’s son Harsh also became an international player. He played tennis for India from 2001 to 2010 and was once the country’s number one tennis player. He won national titles in various age groups in the junior category. He played matches against many great players of the world in the ATP tennis tour. Harsh, who was a member of India’s Davis Cup team for many years, also made it to the main draw of the Wimbledon doubles event in 2010.
Tags: Indian cricket, Tennis Player, Test cricket
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 19, 2024, 15:23 IST