Editing Ranjitsinhji (section)

{{Short description|Indian cricketer and Maharaja of Nawanagar (1872–1933)}}
{{redirect|Ranji}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Ranjit Singh]] (1780–1839), Maharaja of Punjab}}
{{Very long|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
|                name = Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II
|               title = [[Jam Sahib]] of [[Nawanagar State|Nawanagar]] 
|           titletext = ([[#Titles|more]])
|               image = Ranjitsinhji c1908.jpg
|             caption = Ranjitsinhji {{circa}} 1908
|          birth_date = {{Birth date|1872|9|10|df=yes}}
|         birth_place = Sadodar, [[Kathiawar]], [[Kathiawar Agency]], [[British Raj|British Indian Empire]]
|          death_date = {{Death date and age|1933|4|2|1872|9|10|df=yes}}
|         death_place = Jamnagar Palace, [[Nawanagar State]], Kathiawar Agency, India

{{Infobox person
|               child = yes
|          alma_mater = [[Trinity College, Cambridge]]
}}

|          succession = Maharaja of [[Nawanagar State|Nawanagar]]
|               reign = 11 March 1907–2 April 1933
|         predecessor = Jashwantsinhji Vibhaji II
|           successor = [[Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji]]

|              module = {{Infobox cricketer
|               embed = yes
|             country = England
|            nickname = Ranji
|             batting = Right-handed
|             bowling = Right-arm slow
|                role = Batsman

|       international = true
|       testdebutdate = 16 July
|       testdebutyear = 1896
|    testdebutagainst = Australia
|             testcap = 105
|        lasttestdate = 24 July
|        lasttestyear = 1902
|     lasttestagainst = Australia

|               club1 = [[Cambridge University Cricket Club|Cambridge University]]
|               year1 = {{nowrap|1893–1894}}
|               club2 = [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]]
|               year2 = {{nowrap|1895–1920}}
|               club3 = [[London County Cricket Club|London County]]
|               year3 = {{nowrap|1901–1904}}

|             columns = 2

|             column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
|            matches1 = 15
|               runs1 = 989
|            bat avg1 = 44.95
|           100s/50s1 = 2/6
|          top score1 = 175
|         deliveries1 = 97
|            wickets1 = 1
|           bowl avg1 = 39.00
|            fivefor1 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|       best bowling1 = 1/23
|  catches/stumpings1 = 13/–

|             column2 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|            matches2 = 307
|               runs2 = 24,692
|            bat avg2 = 56.37
|           100s/50s2 = 72/109
|          top score2 = 285[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries2 = 8,056
|            wickets2 = 133
|           bowl avg2 = 34.59
|            fivefor2 = 4
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling2 = 6/53
|  catches/stumpings2 = 233/–

|                date = 15 August
|                year = 2022
|              source = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/19331.html Cricinfo
}}
}}

Colonel '''Kumar Sri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II''',{{efn|Ranjitsinhji's name includes the [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] suffix ''-sinhji'', composed of two separate elements: ''-sinh'', a cognate of [[Singh]] (a name common amongst the [[Rajputs of Gujarat]] ), and ''[[-ji]]'', a general [[honorific]]. His name is less commonly given as '''Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji''', which incorporates a [[patronymic]] derived from the name of his adoptive father, Jam Sahib Shri Sir Vibhaji II. During his playing career, Ranjitsinhji was often recorded on scorecards as '''Prince Ranjitsinhji''' or '''K. S. Ranjitsinhji'''. The latter usage derives from the honorifics [[Kumar]] [[Shri]], which were not his given names, but part of his title. The use of initials derived from the tradition of distinguishing [[Amateur status in first-class cricket|amateur players from professionals]] – amateurs had their initials listed on scorecards, whereas professionals were denoted by only their surnames.}} (10 September 1872&nbsp;– 2 April 1933), often known as '''Ranji''' or '''K. S. Ranjitsinhji''', was an Indian [[cricket]]er who later became ruler of his native Indian [[princely state]] of [[Nawanagar State|Nawanagar]] from 1907 to 1933. The main part of his cricket career was from 1893 to 1904 when, as one of the greatest [[batting (cricket)|batsmen]] of his time,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar {{!}} Biography & Cricket Career {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sir-Ranjitsinhji-Vibhaji-Maharaja-Jam-Sahib-of-Nawanagar |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> he played for [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]], [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]], [[London County Cricket Club|London County]] and, in 15 [[Test cricket|Test matches]], for [[England cricket team|England]].

Ranjitsinhji was an unorthodox batsman whose fast reactions and individual style were to revolutionise the game. Previously, batsmen had generally played forward and made shots to the off side; Ranjitsinhji took advantage of the improving quality of [[cricket pitch|pitches]] in his era and played more [[Batting (cricket)#Forward and back|on the back foot]], both in defence and attack. He is particularly associated with one shot, the [[leg glance]], which he popularised and may have invented.

He has been called the "Father of Indian Cricket", as he was the earliest top-class Indian cricketer, but he has been criticised for his refusal to aid and encourage the development of cricket in India itself. The annual first-class championship of India, the [[Ranji Trophy]], was named in his honour by [[Bhupinder Singh of Patiala]] who inaugurated the competition in 1935. Ranjitsinhji's nephew [[Duleepsinhji]] followed his path as a batsman playing first-class cricket for Cambridge, Sussex, and England.