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 This
ICC Match Referee and Umpire, born on 21st April 1946, was
a member of the famous spin quartet that tormented batsmen
for well over a decade. A right arm spinner who was
accurate and attacking, Venkataraghavan made his Test debut
against New Zealand in 1964/65, right here in Chennai.
Venkat played for India from February 1965 to September
1983, which was one of the longest stints for any Indian
player.
Having started his career with 21 wickets in four Test
matches, Venkat was described as a premium bowler, a useful
tail-end batsman, an excellent close-in fielder, and a
shrewd captain. His best bowling figure in Test matches
read 8 for 72. He also engineered three five-wicket hauls.
As a batsman, he scored two half-centuries in Test cricket.
He led the Indian team in the first two World Cup
tournaments and also during the tour of England in 1979.
He retired from first-class cricket in 1985 after taking
the second biggest haul of wickets in the Ranji Trophy -
530.
He made his umpiring debut in 1992/93, both in ODI s
(One-Day Internationals) and Test matches and has also been
a Match Referee.
Another Hall-of-Fame cricketer from the city of Chennai.
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