Former India leg-spinner MV Narsimha Rao, who played four Tests in 1978-79 and later moved to Ireland, will ring the ceremonial bell just before the second T20I between India and Ireland at the Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast on June 28. The development was confirmed to TOI by an official of Cricket Ireland.
Rao's Cricketing Journey
Popularly known in cricketing circles as 'Bobjee,' Rao captained Hyderabad to their second Ranji Trophy title victory against Delhi in the 1987-88 final. He moved to Ireland 36 years ago in 1988, following in the footsteps of former India opener Raman Lamba, who also married an Irish woman and represented Ireland.
Historic Series Ahead
The two-match T20I series between India and Ireland could be historic as India's 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who received his maiden India call-up for the T20I series in Ireland and England, could make his highly-anticipated international debut. The series will also mark the India captaincy debut of Mumbai and Punjab Kings middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer.
Rao's Domestic and Test Career
An allrounder who bowled fastish leg breaks, Rao played 108 first-class matches, taking 245 wickets at an average of 28.05 and scoring 4845 runs at 40.71, including nine centuries, between 1971-72 and 1988-89. He made his Test debut at Eden Gardens against Kallicharran's West Indies in 1978-79, taking three wickets at 75.66 and scoring 46 runs at 9.20 in his short Test career.
'Bobjee' was a pillar for the Hyderabad team for two decades and had one of the best allround performances in the Ranji Trophy, amassing 4124 runs at 47.40 and taking 218 wickets at 24.20. Later, he played as a professional in Ireland.
