Prakash Poddar

Prakash Chandra Poddar (born 25 October 1940) is an Indian former first-class cricketer who played for Bengal cricket team and Rajasthan cricket team. After his playing career, he became a Talent Resource Development Officer (TRDO) for the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Prakash Poddar
Personal information
Full namePrakash Chandra Poddar
Born (1940-10-25) 25 October 1940
Calcutta, Bengal, India
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeg break googly
RoleBatsman; occasional wicket-keeper
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1960/61–1976/77Bengal
1964/65–1966/67Rajasthan
Career statistics
Competition FC List A
Matches 74 1
Runs scored 3,868 28
Batting average 38.29 –
100s/50s 11/18 0/0
Top score 199 28*
Balls bowled 125 –
Wickets 2 –
Bowling average 32.50 –
5 wickets in innings 0 –
10 wickets in match 0 n/a
Best bowling 1/12 –
Catches/stumpings 38/1 0/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 7 January 2016

Career

A right-handed top-order batsman, Poddar appeared in 74 first-class matches playing for Bengal, Rajasthan, East Zone, Central Zone. He played unofficial Tests for India[1] and also appeared for Rest of India in Irani Cup and Board President's team in tour games. In January 1964, playing for Board President's XI, Poddar scored 100 not out against a Marylebone Cricket Club bowling attack consisting of John Price, Jeff Jones, Barry Knight, John Mortimore and Donald Wilson.[2] Poddar appeared in two Ranji finals, both during his three-year stint with Rajasthan.[3] He was the third-highest run-getter of the 1970–71 Ranji Trophy scoring 562 runs at an average of 70.25,[4] with a top-score of 199 run out in Bengal's quarterfinal match against Vidarbha.[5] He captained Bengal in a few matches during his career and retired after the 1976/77 season.

After retirement, Poddar worked for the Board of Control for Cricket in India as a Talent Resource Development Officer (TRDO) of the Talent Resource Development Wing. Poddar is credited as the man who "discovered" Mahendra Singh Dhoni during a match in 2003.[6][7][8][9] Poddar wrote his observations about Dhoni, "Good striker of the ball; has a lot of power but needs to work on his wicket-keeping. Technically not very good. Is very good at running between wickets." He recommended Dhoni to the National Cricket Academy, and Dhoni went on to play for India A in 2003/04 and then for the national team. Poddar was TRDO for just one year.[6]

References
  1. "Cheering for cricket". Times of India. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  2. "Indian Board President's XI v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1963/64". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. "First-Class Matches played by Prakash Poddar". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  4. "Batting and Fielding in Ranji Trophy 1970/71 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  5. "Bengal v Vidarbha in 1970/71". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. Magotra, Ashish. "The man who discovered Mahendra Singh Dhoni". Firstpost. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  7. "Bring back the scouts". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  8. "The man who can read the past and the future". The Telegraph. Calcutta. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  9. Ezekiel, Gulu (1 April 2013). Captain Cool: The MS Dhoni Story. Westland. p. 224. ISBN 9382618252.
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