Prakash Bhandari: Delhi’s first test cricketer and master of three sports

Players from Delhi’s cricket, golf and bridge communities gathered at the India International Centre on November 22 for a condolence meeting in memory of Prakash Bhandari.

Bhandari, the first cricketer from Delhi to play Test matches for India, also represented the country in golf and bridge. He died on November 17 at the age of 90. He leaves behind a legacy of quiet excellence, grace and tireless promotion of the games he adored. His life embodied versatility: he excelled in multiple disciplines and worked to nurture each of them for future generations.

Bhandari played his first Test 70 years ago, on the matting wicket of Karachi, against Pakistan in 1955. Batting at No. 8, he scored 19 and 6 and picked up one wicket with his off-spin. An aggressive batsman, accomplished leg-break bowler and brilliant fielder, he was among the youngest players to represent India at the time.

Ramjas School to Hindu College

Bhandari spent his childhood in Anand Parbat, where he learnt and played cricket. A student of Ramjas School, Karol Bagh, and later Hindu College, he played his last Test against Australia at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in 1956. Those who saw that era say that among the brightest young talents emerging in Indian cricket in the 1950s, Bhandari was right at the top. He earned his Test cap at 19 — a remarkable achievement when Indian players received few international opportunities. His international career, however, was restricted to just three Test matches.

Known for his aggressive stroke-play, Bhandari etched his name in history with the then-fastest century in Indian first-class cricket — a blistering 100 off 60 balls for Bengal against Rajasthan in Udaipur in the 1961–62 season. He scored 58 in the first innings and claimed seven wickets in that match, showcasing his all-round ability.

Internationally, Bhandari became Delhi’s first Test cricketer, debuting against Pakistan in Karachi in February 1955. He played two Tests against Pakistan and one against Australia in 1956, scoring 39 runs and taking a wicket. Though opportunities were limited in post-colonial Indian cricket, his selection as a hard-hitting batsman and useful bowler underlined his promise. He also toured Ceylon in 1956 and featured in exhibition games such as the Indian XI versus the Silver Jubilee Overseas team.

After retiring from cricket in the late 1960s, Bhandari transitioned seamlessly to golf with the same calm focus. A long-time member of the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), he competed internationally and remained committed to developing the sport. Alongside Ajit Haksar, Justice Vikramjit Sen, Ashok Malik, Guli Juneja and Champika Sayal, he co-founded the Delhi Golf Society (DGS). As its president, he spearheaded grassroots initiatives, including the NCR Cup and Delhi State Championship, to groom junior talent. He served as the 25th president of the Indian Golf Union until November 2005, working with Tata Steel to foster development. His efforts helped broaden access to golf in Delhi, inspiring players such as Shubham Jaglan.

Bhandari later took to bridge, gaining international recognition and strengthening bonds across Delhi’s sporting circles.

Master of all

Former Delhi Ranji Trophy captain Venkat Sundaram, a close friend, recalls: “Prakash remained a sportsman all his life. When he left cricket, he took up golf, and later tried his hand at bridge too. He represented Delhi Schools and Delhi University from 1951 to 1956. He played close to 60 Ranji Trophy matches for Delhi.”

He adds, “One rarely comes across a naturally gifted athlete like Prakash Bhandari who has achieved mastery in three different sports. This is no ordinary feat.”

Luck did not favour him in international cricket, where he mostly batted in the lower order and was seldom given the ball. His real brilliance shone in domestic cricket — first for Delhi, and later for Bengal. In 63 first-class matches, he scored around 2,552 runs at an average of 32–33, with four centuries. His highest score was 227 for Delhi against Patiala in the 1957–58 season. In the same match, he also took nine wickets — a double century and nine wickets in one game, a lasting example of his all-round ability.

Loss for T20

Cricketers and fans from Delhi’s older generation say that had one-day or T20 cricket existed in Bhandari’s era, he would have been a star of the format. Well-known cricket commentator Ravi Chaturvedi says that had fate been kinder, Bhandari’s name would have shone far brighter in Indian cricket’s history. The Hindu College Old Students’ Association has also expressed grief at his passing. Bhandari studied at Hindu College from 1952 to 1955.