Image and Narrative contributed by Geetali Tare, Himachal Pradesh.
Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu, or C.K. Nayudu, as he is better known, was born in Nagpur in October 1895.
He made his debut in first class cricket 1916, playing for the Hindus against the Europeans. He played first-class cricket regularly until 1958, and then returned to the game for one last time in 1963 at the age of 68. He moved to Indore in 1923, on the invitation of Maharaja Holkar and would transform the Holkar team into one that would win many Ranji trophies.
Nayudu was the first captain of the Indian cricket team to play England in 1932. His playing career spanned six decades.
This picture was found in an old family album belonging to my uncle, Madhukar Dravid. My great-uncles Vasant Dravid and Narayan Dravid were great friends of Nayudu and his brother C.S. Nayudu. It was taken by my great-uncle, Late. Vasant Dravid who is some manner also related to Rahul Dravid.
More on C.K. Nayudu
5 Responses
Colonel C.K. Naidu. My first cricket hero when I started reading about cricket a lot in 1985.
Awesome.
Nice piece. His daughters were my mother, Malati Dravid’s college friends. Narayan Dravid is my uncle.
Geetali! This is a picture of my great-uncle! Thank you for sharing it. Warmly, Swapna
Great site! But isn’t it tough to search for all these photos single handedly? If you haven’t done so already, why not appoint a regional rep to help you out in your endeavor? Just a suggestion!
Its hard these days to come across anything worthwhile. Your site needs more advertising, ma’am :)